This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/europe/6657981.stm
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| EU close to roaming charge deal | EU close to roaming charge deal |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| European Union member states and members of the European Parliament have reached a preliminary deal on cutting mobile roaming charges. | European Union member states and members of the European Parliament have reached a preliminary deal on cutting mobile roaming charges. |
| Under the deal, it would cost a maximum of 49 euro cents (£0.34, $0.66) to call home from another EU state, and 24 cents to receive a call. | Under the deal, it would cost a maximum of 49 euro cents (£0.34, $0.66) to call home from another EU state, and 24 cents to receive a call. |
| These caps would drop a little in 2008, and more in 2009. | These caps would drop a little in 2008, and more in 2009. |
| If MEPs and European telecoms ministers formally back the deal the new prices could come into force over the summer. | If MEPs and European telecoms ministers formally back the deal the new prices could come into force over the summer. |
| A vote is expected next Wednesday in the European Parliament, while telecoms ministers are due to consider the package on 7 June. | |
| The European Commission warned the industry in 2004 that it was overcharging customers for roaming, and presented its plan to cap prices last year. | |
| Roaming in the EU can often cost one euro a minute. A Maltese calling home from Latvia can pay as much as 11.21 euros (£7.68) for a four-minute conversation. | |
| Compromise | Compromise |
| PROPOSED ROAMING CAPS Making a call Parliament opening bid: 40c European Commission: 44c Parliament compromise: 45c German EU presidency: 60c Industry (GSMA): 65cPreliminary deal: 49c falling to 43c in 2009 Receiving a call Parliament opening bid: 15c European Commission: 15c Parliament compromise: 20c German EU presidency: 30c Industry (GSMA): 35cPreliminary deal: 24c falling to 19c in 2009 Charges per minute, excluding VAT Case study: EU roaming law The EU's German presidency had pushed for price caps of 60 cents to make a call, and 30 cents to receive one. | PROPOSED ROAMING CAPS Making a call Parliament opening bid: 40c European Commission: 44c Parliament compromise: 45c German EU presidency: 60c Industry (GSMA): 65cPreliminary deal: 49c falling to 43c in 2009 Receiving a call Parliament opening bid: 15c European Commission: 15c Parliament compromise: 20c German EU presidency: 30c Industry (GSMA): 35cPreliminary deal: 24c falling to 19c in 2009 Charges per minute, excluding VAT Case study: EU roaming law The EU's German presidency had pushed for price caps of 60 cents to make a call, and 30 cents to receive one. |
| The European Parliament originally wanted caps of 40 cents and 15 cents. | The European Parliament originally wanted caps of 40 cents and 15 cents. |
| MEPs at a press conference in parliament were divided on how soon the new charges would come into effect. | MEPs at a press conference in parliament were divided on how soon the new charges would come into effect. |
| "I hope this package can deliver for consumers this summer," said Austrian MEP Paul Ruebig, who led the negotiations for the parliament. | "I hope this package can deliver for consumers this summer," said Austrian MEP Paul Ruebig, who led the negotiations for the parliament. |
| British MEP Giles Chichester said he expected operators to compete with each other to be the first to offer the new rate. | British MEP Giles Chichester said he expected operators to compete with each other to be the first to offer the new rate. |
| "I would be astonished if mobile operators do not take the hint," he said. | "I would be astonished if mobile operators do not take the hint," he said. |
| But telephone companies would have one month from the time the regulation is published in the official journal - probably in July - to offer customers the new pricing plan. | But telephone companies would have one month from the time the regulation is published in the official journal - probably in July - to offer customers the new pricing plan. |
| So some customers may not have a chance to switch until some time in August. | So some customers may not have a chance to switch until some time in August. |
| Three-year limit | Three-year limit |
| In October, consumers would be switched to the new rate automatically, unless they had deliberately chosen a different package. | In October, consumers would be switched to the new rate automatically, unless they had deliberately chosen a different package. |
| The price ceilings would drop in 2008 to 46 cents for making calls abroad and 22 cents for receiving them, the negotiators agreed. | The price ceilings would drop in 2008 to 46 cents for making calls abroad and 22 cents for receiving them, the negotiators agreed. |
| In 2009 they would drop further, to 43 cents and 19 cents respectively. | In 2009 they would drop further, to 43 cents and 19 cents respectively. |
| After three years, the caps would be lifted. | After three years, the caps would be lifted. |
| The telecoms industry has warned that mobile phone users in Europe couldface higher domestic charges, if roaming charges are forced down too much. | |
| "We're disappointed. The price caps are very low, they leave no room forcompetition below those levels. They will become the standard tariff," saidDavid Pringle, spokesman for the GSM Association, which groups together Europe's mobile phone operators. | |
| He added that informing all customers of their tariff choices would be a "huge exercise in logistics". |