The European Regulators are set to stamp down on mobile roaming charges. The commisioner in charge – Viviane Reding (right) – stated that they have long been concerned with the cost and complexity of international roaming charges and have admitted that self-regulation “does not work”.
The European Commission recently launched this website showing roaming charges between European operators. Reding stated that “When I launched this roaming website in October, I told operators very clearly that this is the last time I will stand on the sidelines. I (am) prepared to take regulatory action if prices do not move substantially closer to a market-oriented level”
They are now preparing to take legislative action and a draft regulation is due in April. If approved the new laws would be applicable to all European member states and would come into force late in 2007.
Links – Roaming Charges Information – Euractiv.com
European Commission gets tough on mobile roaming charges
February 10, 2006