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| Mobile phone roaming fees 'unjustifiably high', EU says | Mobile phone roaming fees 'unjustifiably high', EU says |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Phone companies are maintaining "unjustifiably high margins" on charges for using mobiles while abroad, the European Commission has said. | Phone companies are maintaining "unjustifiably high margins" on charges for using mobiles while abroad, the European Commission has said. |
| It imposed a cap on the cost of calls, texts and data downloads this summer. | It imposed a cap on the cost of calls, texts and data downloads this summer. |
| The phone companies said they had been "diligent" in meeting these rules and were introducing better offers. | The phone companies said they had been "diligent" in meeting these rules and were introducing better offers. |
| But the commission said the market was still uncompetitive and launched a consultation aimed at quickening the speed at which roaming charges fall. | But the commission said the market was still uncompetitive and launched a consultation aimed at quickening the speed at which roaming charges fall. |
| The European Commission wants firms to remove the difference between roaming and national tariffs by 2015. | The European Commission wants firms to remove the difference between roaming and national tariffs by 2015. |
| The cap was meant as an interim measure to encourage companies to lower prices towards that target, which was announced in May. | The cap was meant as an interim measure to encourage companies to lower prices towards that target, which was announced in May. |
| But the Commission, which regulates telecoms services within the European Union, has said that companies were still charging close to that limit. | But the Commission, which regulates telecoms services within the European Union, has said that companies were still charging close to that limit. |
| The Commission has asked for suggestions on how to improve matters and is seeking the views of consumers and businesses on how to reach its target of a flat charge for phone usage within the 27-EU countries. | The Commission has asked for suggestions on how to improve matters and is seeking the views of consumers and businesses on how to reach its target of a flat charge for phone usage within the 27-EU countries. |
| The target applies to prices for voice calls, text and data services. | The target applies to prices for voice calls, text and data services. |
| 'Open mind' | 'Open mind' |
| Data-roaming bills for travellers have been automatically limited since July to 50 euros (£42.30, $66.09) a month to avoid huge bills being run up. | Data-roaming bills for travellers have been automatically limited since July to 50 euros (£42.30, $66.09) a month to avoid huge bills being run up. |
| Roaming voice call costs have been capped at 39 euro cents a minute (excluding VAT), while the cost of receiving a call while travelling cannot exceed 15 euro cents a minute. | |
| The GSMA, which represents mobile phone companies across Europe, said companies had delivered what it described as "sometimes technically complex provisions". | The GSMA, which represents mobile phone companies across Europe, said companies had delivered what it described as "sometimes technically complex provisions". |
| It also said members had "been responding to customer demand and competitive pressure by introducing increasingly attractive and innovative data roaming offers". | It also said members had "been responding to customer demand and competitive pressure by introducing increasingly attractive and innovative data roaming offers". |
| The consultation will run until February next year and will provide a basis for a review of current EU roaming rules which the Commission will present to the European Parliament and Council by June 2011. | The consultation will run until February next year and will provide a basis for a review of current EU roaming rules which the Commission will present to the European Parliament and Council by June 2011. |
| The EU's Digital Agenda Commissioner, Neelie Kroes, said in a statement. "We need to address the source of current problems, namely a lack of competition, and to find a durable solution. But we are keeping an open mind on exactly what solution would work." | The EU's Digital Agenda Commissioner, Neelie Kroes, said in a statement. "We need to address the source of current problems, namely a lack of competition, and to find a durable solution. But we are keeping an open mind on exactly what solution would work." |