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| EU decries high mobile phone cost | |
| (1 day later) | |
| The European Commission says some mobile phone users are turning off their handsets when abroad because of "excessively high" roaming charges. | |
| Its call came after a survey conducted for the Commission found 70% of Europeans want it to act to reduce the cost of cross-border mobile calls. | Its call came after a survey conducted for the Commission found 70% of Europeans want it to act to reduce the cost of cross-border mobile calls. |
| The commission first said in July that it intended to cap roaming charges. | The commission first said in July that it intended to cap roaming charges. |
| Europe's mobile phone networks insist legislation is not needed as they are already reducing their roaming prices. | Europe's mobile phone networks insist legislation is not needed as they are already reducing their roaming prices. |
| Four-times higher | Four-times higher |
| Reaffirming its intention to bring in caps, the Commission said its latest survey also found that calls to a mobile in another country within the EU could be as much as four times higher than a call within one nation. | Reaffirming its intention to bring in caps, the Commission said its latest survey also found that calls to a mobile in another country within the EU could be as much as four times higher than a call within one nation. |
| Commissioner Viviane Reding is leading the attack on roaming charges | Commissioner Viviane Reding is leading the attack on roaming charges |
| European Union Information Society Commissioner Viviane Reding, who is leading the caps plan, said the current high prices were putting off people from using their phones while on holiday. | European Union Information Society Commissioner Viviane Reding, who is leading the caps plan, said the current high prices were putting off people from using their phones while on holiday. |
| "Excessively high prices restrict mobile usage while abroad," she said. | "Excessively high prices restrict mobile usage while abroad," she said. |
| "This hurts consumers, it hurts European industry and it hurts Europe." | "This hurts consumers, it hurts European industry and it hurts Europe." |
| The legislation to cap roaming charges is currently being debated by the European Parliament, and the Commission says it wants the new law adopted before the 2007 summer season. | The legislation to cap roaming charges is currently being debated by the European Parliament, and the Commission says it wants the new law adopted before the 2007 summer season. |
| However, mobile phone operators insist the legislation is not needed, and firms such as Vodafone and Deutsche Telekom have already announced plans to reduce their roaming charges. | However, mobile phone operators insist the legislation is not needed, and firms such as Vodafone and Deutsche Telekom have already announced plans to reduce their roaming charges. |
| According to the Commission, the European roaming market is worth 8.5bn euros ($11bn; £5.7bn) a year, or 5.7% of the sector's revenues. | According to the Commission, the European roaming market is worth 8.5bn euros ($11bn; £5.7bn) a year, or 5.7% of the sector's revenues. |
| The Commission estimates that its legislation will save European phone users 5bn euros a year. | The Commission estimates that its legislation will save European phone users 5bn euros a year. |