EC votes to cut roaming rates on texts

The cost of text messaging while abroad on the continent is to be cut drastically, the European Commission announced on Tuesday.

The Commission also warned that similar restrictions could be placed on data-roaming charges if operators do not voluntarily cut prices. Tuesday's announcement comes two years after restrictions were placed on roaming voice-call charges.

"The average cost of a roaming text message in the EU between October 2007 and March 2008 was €0.29 (23p), according to the European Regulators Group (ERG), but can be as high as €0.80 for travellers from Belgium," read a statement from the Commission. "Calls on the industry for self-regulation and voluntary reductions of roaming prices for text messages have not been answered. The Commission will, therefore, start working on measures to ensure that consumers benefit from a truly single market for mobile text services."

According to the Commission, the measures are likely to be formally proposed to the European Parliament and Council in early autumn.

José Manuel Barroso, the Commission's president, said the restrictions would be in line with the concept of the European single market. "On seeing the latest price trends gathered by national telecoms regulators, I am particularly concerned by the high prices paid by consumers for text messages when they are travelling abroad," he said. "There is also a danger that European businesses are put off by non-transparent roaming costs for mobile data services. The Commission will closely work together with the European Parliament and the Council to find swift responses to Europe's data-roaming problems."

"It is not a good sign for the competitiveness of Europe's mobile industry that it still hasn't got the message that credible price reductions are needed to avoid regulation," said Viviane Reding, the commissioner for information society and media. "I will, therefore, recommend to my fellow commissioners that we propose a regulation of SMS roaming in October."