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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| EU to challenge roaming 'rip-off' | EU to challenge roaming 'rip-off' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Regulators are set to try to force phone companies to cut the cost of sending text messages within the EU. | Regulators are set to try to force phone companies to cut the cost of sending text messages within the EU. |
| EU Telecoms Commissioner Viviane Reding is expected to outline plans to make the cost of texting from abroad more comparable to doing so at home. | EU Telecoms Commissioner Viviane Reding is expected to outline plans to make the cost of texting from abroad more comparable to doing so at home. |
| The ambition for legislation follows the refusal of most firms to reduce overseas SMS prices and the cost of mobile internet access while abroad. | The ambition for legislation follows the refusal of most firms to reduce overseas SMS prices and the cost of mobile internet access while abroad. |
| The mobile phone operators argue that customers are not being ripped off. | The mobile phone operators argue that customers are not being ripped off. |
| The industry body, the GSM Association, says that they are in a competitive business and that prices are falling anyway. | The industry body, the GSM Association, says that they are in a competitive business and that prices are falling anyway. |
| The new measures may be proposed to the European Parliament in September. | The new measures may be proposed to the European Parliament in September. |
| 'No self-regulation' | 'No self-regulation' |
| The 2.5 billion text messages sent every year by roaming customers in EU member states cost over 10 times more than domestic messages, Ms Reding says. | The 2.5 billion text messages sent every year by roaming customers in EU member states cost over 10 times more than domestic messages, Ms Reding says. |
| She is expected to reveal that the average cost of a roaming text message in the EU between October 2007 and March 2008 was 29 euro cents (23p), but was sometimes as high as 80 cents (64p). | She is expected to reveal that the average cost of a roaming text message in the EU between October 2007 and March 2008 was 29 euro cents (23p), but was sometimes as high as 80 cents (64p). |
| UK customers consumers pay up to 50 cents (40p) per text message from abroad compared to the equivalent of 15 cents (12p) domestically. | UK customers consumers pay up to 50 cents (40p) per text message from abroad compared to the equivalent of 15 cents (12p) domestically. |
| And sending a text to family in the UK from holiday in Spain will cost the traveller an average of 63 cents (40p), according to EU figures. | And sending a text to family in the UK from holiday in Spain will cost the traveller an average of 63 cents (40p), according to EU figures. |
| Last year, the European Commission set limits on roaming charges for mobile phone calls across the EU. | Last year, the European Commission set limits on roaming charges for mobile phone calls across the EU. |
| But it says that "calls on the industry for self-regulation and voluntary reductions of roaming prices for text messages have not been answered". | But it says that "calls on the industry for self-regulation and voluntary reductions of roaming prices for text messages have not been answered". |
| Ms Reding is also expected to try and put an end to "bill shocks" - when users are hit with unexpectedly high costs for using a mobile connection to surf the internet. | Ms Reding is also expected to try and put an end to "bill shocks" - when users are hit with unexpectedly high costs for using a mobile connection to surf the internet. |
| Cross-border fees | Cross-border fees |
| Last month, the Commission unveiled plans to lower the cost of mobile phone calls by reducing the fees operators charge each other for using their networks. | Last month, the Commission unveiled plans to lower the cost of mobile phone calls by reducing the fees operators charge each other for using their networks. |
| Europe's telecoms watchdog published guidelines for laws to harmonise call termination fees across the EU by 2011. | Europe's telecoms watchdog published guidelines for laws to harmonise call termination fees across the EU by 2011. |
| Currently, 27 national authorities regulate fees charged by an operator for handling calls from another. | Currently, 27 national authorities regulate fees charged by an operator for handling calls from another. |
| Brussels said consumers ended up losing out because of variations in cross-border fees. | Brussels said consumers ended up losing out because of variations in cross-border fees. |
| Operators have until 2011 to abide by the new regulations, which the Commission estimated would make calls 70% cheaper. | Operators have until 2011 to abide by the new regulations, which the Commission estimated would make calls 70% cheaper. |