Roaming Data Price Cap Plan Debated By European Politicians
Following European telecom commissioner Viviane Reding’s call last week to reduce and cap roaming data and SMS charges (see our post), news orgs claims to have seen specific prices in her proposal. Reding wants to slim roaming data from an average €2.05/Mb ($2.97) to just €1 ($1.45), IHT says. She also wants to reduce roaming SMS charges from an average €0.29 to €0.11.
On face value, this would significantly reduce carriers’ data revenue - if it weren’t already growing. This is exactly what’s wanted by some networks like Three, which recently said high cross-border costs “inflict serious harm on a growing market” - carriers now seem to have woken up to unlimited data pricing and the “if you built it they will come” paradigm. Bill shock, however, could significantly impede the mobile internet content market for European travelers.
European parliamentarians yesterday debated Reding’s proposal, which Out-Law said would amend five directives and one regulation. Reding, who already successfully reduced roaming voice charges last year in time for the summer holidays, will put the package to fellow commissioners late in September, then submit it to member states and the parliament again for approval, with price reductions expected to take place next summer.
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