Mobile roaming charges for calls, text messages and data could be further reduced under proposals backed by a European Parliament committee today.
The Industry Committee said that while wholesale roaming service suppliers had cut their prices to match the EU price cap for roaming charges, they must now try to compete below it.
Today it backed new rules which from June 2012 could enable clients to buy roaming services from suppliers other than their home service suppliers, and help alternative suppliers to enter the market.
They would also cap retail data roaming charges for the first time and set lower roaming price caps for calls and text messgaes.
Under the draft regulation, mobile call rates for consumers could fall to 15 cent per minute for outgoing calls and 5 cent per minute for incoming calls from July 2014.
Text messages would be capped at 5 cent per text and data would be capped at 20 cent per megabyte, compared to the 50 cent cap as at July 2012.
In a statement, the committee noted the European Commission’s pledge in its 2010 Digital Agenda for Europe to bring cross-border roaming tariffs into line with domestic prices by 2015, in line with requests from the parliament.
Current legislation capping roaming charges for phone calls and SMS messaging, at both wholesale and retail levels expires in June this year.
“We need to stimulate real competition among mobile operators and guarantee fair roaming prices for EU consumers who are on holiday or travelling for work,” said Angelika Niebler, the parliament's rapporteur for the draft legislation.
The draft law was approved, with 55 votes in favour, five against and no abstentions.
Speaking after today’s committee meeting, Fine Gael MEP Jim Higgins said there needed to be more competition in the market “to put an end to the ripping-off of consumers”.
“The current charges, for mobile internet in particular, do in no way reflect the actual costs. Technology has improved, but the prices charged have not,” Mr Higgins said. Mr Higgins also called on providers to offer the same rates for roaming in countries such as the US, Canada and Australia.
“This would help the many Irish tourists who visit these countries annually.”
He said the European Parliament and the Council now had to find an agreement on the future regulation.
“Hopefully a deal can be done by Easter. I am delighted with today’s vote which is an excellent starting point for more transparency, competition and lower charges in the mobile roaming market.”