MEPs to make decision on mobile roaming rates

The European Commission has agreed in principle to cap mobile roaming charges to around 50 eurocents (34p) a minute under proposed regulations.

The agreement was reached with the 27 EU member states last Friday at Cebit and if approved by MEPs in May could be put into effect in time for the summer holiday rush.

If the move goes ahead, current mobile roaming charges will be slashed by around two-thirds but more cuts may be in the pipeline.

Although the agreement has been welcomed by European IT Commissioner Vivienne Redding, who has been campaigning for the reduction of these fees since July last year, she believed more work was needed to drive the costs down further.

“There is still a need for more intense work on the issue,” Redding said at Cebit. "I'm confident, we could agree to a ceiling not higher than 40 cents (27p) [per minute]."

However, she reassured the public that the costs would not reach higher than 50 eurocents “because the highest proposals that have been tabled are for [this price]".

In addition to capping mobile roaming charges, Redding has also proposed mobile phone companies tell customers about what they will be charged to receive or make calls or send text messages whilst abroad.

Whether or not the new agreement should also apply to data calls to cut the costs of people using their phones to access the internet or email while they are abroad will also be scrutinised during the May talks.

The agreement could also lead to a new law with roaming charges to be approved in early June, which means they could come into force later that month or in early July.