The European Commissioner for the Information Society and Media, Viviane Reding, considering that retail and wholesale prices charged for roaming data services throughout the European Union to be excessive, announced that operators have until 1 July 2008 to lower them.
The Commissioner pointed out that a reduction in wholesale tariffs is fundamental in order to bring down the artificial barriers between networks and nations which prohibit private and corporate consumers from taking full benefit of the single market in the twenty-seven Member States of the EU. She considers that, in this respect, it is wholesale tariffs that represent the key problem associated with the roaming data service.
The objective is clear: sending text messages or transferring data using a mobile phone in another EU country should not be substantially more expensive for the consumer than sending text messages or transferring data in their own country.
The Commissioner also stressed that, if operators do not comply voluntarily by the date indicated, she would once again be forced to propose regulatory intervention.
Further information:
- Viviane Reding - Mobile goes Internet: Key Challenges for Mobile Ubiquity in Europe's Single Market http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=SPEECH/08/70&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
Related information on ANACOM's website:
- Roaming https://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?categoryId=188342
