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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| EU to vote on mobile roaming fees | EU to vote on mobile roaming fees |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Plans to cut the cost of mobile phone calls between European Union member states may be about to move a step closer with a key vote in Brussels. | Plans to cut the cost of mobile phone calls between European Union member states may be about to move a step closer with a key vote in Brussels. |
| A committee at the European Parliament will on Thursday vote on European Commission proposals to cut so-called roaming charges by as much as 70%. | A committee at the European Parliament will on Thursday vote on European Commission proposals to cut so-called roaming charges by as much as 70%. |
| If the bill passes the committee, it will then move to the main parliament. | If the bill passes the committee, it will then move to the main parliament. |
| The commission wants the cuts in place by the summer, but they will still need to be approved by EU nations. | The commission wants the cuts in place by the summer, but they will still need to be approved by EU nations. |
| 'Unjustified cost' | 'Unjustified cost' |
| Mobile phone companies have always justified the charges because of the costs they face when routing calls on rival networks. | Mobile phone companies have always justified the charges because of the costs they face when routing calls on rival networks. |
| If we face compulsory price caps we could end up running some services at a loss Eirini ZafeiratouGSM Europe Case study: Roaming charges | |
| But the European Commission calculates their profit from the trade at around 8.5bn euros ($11bn; £5.7bn) a year, and is trying to take on a role as consumer champion to reduce the fees. | But the European Commission calculates their profit from the trade at around 8.5bn euros ($11bn; £5.7bn) a year, and is trying to take on a role as consumer champion to reduce the fees. |
| The Euro MP with the job of steering the bill through the European Parliament, Paul Rubig, believes the roaming charges of some operators are outrageous. | The Euro MP with the job of steering the bill through the European Parliament, Paul Rubig, believes the roaming charges of some operators are outrageous. |
| "We have one member state where at present you pay five euro cents per minute," he said. | "We have one member state where at present you pay five euro cents per minute," he said. |
| "If you go outside this member state and phone home, you pay three euros. Nobody can explain why that is justified." | "If you go outside this member state and phone home, you pay three euros. Nobody can explain why that is justified." |
| 'Unnecessary legislation' | 'Unnecessary legislation' |
| But the phone companies are not convinced that legislation will help matters. | But the phone companies are not convinced that legislation will help matters. |
| Eirini Zafeiratou from GSM Europe, a lobby group which campaigns on their behalf, insists prices are already falling because of competition between the networks. | Eirini Zafeiratou from GSM Europe, a lobby group which campaigns on their behalf, insists prices are already falling because of competition between the networks. |
| "Over the last couple of years, prices have fallen by around 25%, and customers who travel frequently can select special tariffs which cut the cost even further," she said. | "Over the last couple of years, prices have fallen by around 25%, and customers who travel frequently can select special tariffs which cut the cost even further," she said. |
| "If we face compulsory price caps we could end up running some services at a loss." | "If we face compulsory price caps we could end up running some services at a loss." |
| The European Commission first scrutinised roaming charges as far back as 2000. | The European Commission first scrutinised roaming charges as far back as 2000. |
| Have you been hit by expensive phone bills because of roaming charges? Send us your experiences by filling in the form below. | Have you been hit by expensive phone bills because of roaming charges? Send us your experiences by filling in the form below. |