Phone firms reject EU roaming plan

AN attempt to scrap all mobile phone “roaming” charges by 2014 was defeated yesterday, as a war of words broke out between the European Commission and Vodafone over a continued crackdown.

Compulsory maximum roaming rates were first imposed on mobile network operators nearly five years ago to tackle what the Commission called the “roaming rip-off” – the operators were said to be making profits of more than 200 per cent for mobile calls made while in other EU countries, and 300 per cent or 400 per cent for calls received.

The gap between domestic and “roaming” call charges has fallen by about 75 per cent since 2007, with Commissioner Neelie Kroes vowing to reduce the gap to “almost nothing” by 2015.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

However, a committee of MEPs has rejected pressure to eliminate the difference by 2014, recommending instead further charge cuts this summer.

“There’s no need for phone companies to have any roaming charges at all,” said Labour’s Peter Skinner.

On Monday, Vodafone chief executive Vittorio Colao called for a “moratorium on regulation” in the telecoms sector, warning that mobile phone companies would cut investment in networks unless the EU stopped imposing price cuts.

Related topics: