Plans to slash roaming charges could come into force as early as July

UK calls from Europe capped at 30p

Seventy per cent cut to roaming bill will halve €10bn operator profits

Written by Matt Chapman

vnunet.com, 16 Mar 2007

European Union telecoms ministers have agreed a deal that could see roaming fees from mobile phone operators cut by 70 per cent.

Informal talks at the CeBIT technology fair in Hanover led to an agreement in principle that could lead to the cost of a phone call made from Europe to the UK being capped at 30p.

The proposed rates would halve the amount of income mobile operators currently generate from roaming charges, estimated at €10bn (£6.84bn).

The plans could come into force as early as July if MEPs agree to the proposal in May.

The UK was reportedly one of the last countries to agree terms, after holding out for exemptions to packages such as Vodafone's Passport service which offers a 75p connection charge followed by normal UK rates per minute.

However, the UK lobbied for the changes to come into effect within three months, not the six months originally been proposed by European IT commissioner Viviane Reding.