EC bid to remove mobile roaming charges by 2014 defeated

A plan to scrap mobile roaming charges across the European Union (EU) by 2014 was defeated last night, after a committee of MEPs opted against implementing the plan, preferring instead to adopt a fresh round of price cuts this summer. Compulsory maximum mobile roaming rates were first introduced in Europe around five years ago to correct what the European Commission (EC) dubbed the ‘roaming rip-off’. At the time cellcos were accused of making profits of 200% on mobile calls to another country and up to 400% on calls received. Today, the differential gap between standard (domestic) rates and roaming rates has fallen about 75%, with MEPs looking to reduce it to ‘almost nothing’ by 2015.