EU to Force Mobile Operators to Slash Roaming Charges
The European Commision is poised to force operators to slash the cost of mobile phone calls while abroad, despite a fierce lobbying campaign by the telecoms industry.
Upset that operators have ignored the warning to cut so called “roaming” rates, the European Union’s executive arm is to carry out its threat to introduce measures aimed at cutting prices by half.
Information Society and Media Commissioner Viviane Reading is to unveil on Wednesday controvesial new regulations to push prices lower, which the industry has fought tooth-and-nail to avoid.
With 147 million Europeans using roaming services, the market5 is estimated to be worth about 8.5 billion euros a year.