Europe’s mobile phones operators must cut the costs of international texts and internet access or face regulation, the EU has said.

The new generation of phones have made it easier to surf the internet and email, but according to research it is still an expensive option.

A text sent while abroad can cost as much as 49p and a transferring 1MB of data on average costs £4.11.

Speaking at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, EU commissioner for information society and media Viviane Reding said although some phone companies such as O2, Vodafone and 3 had lowered some tariffs, more needed to be done.

Reding said firms had until 1 July to lower prices to “acceptable levels” or face being regulated in the same way as they currently are with international call charges. Last year the EU adopted regulations that forced mobile phone companies to lower roaming charges.