Roaming cuts: Only for mobile newbies?

With legislation that could see roaming bills cut by up to 70 per cent currently under the microscope at the European Parliament, politicians are divided on how best to apply the proposed price cuts.

Following backing given this week by the Economic and Monetary Committee, two more European Parliament committees have given their approval to the legislation, which calls for retail and wholesale price caps on call charges - although some of the Parliament's thoughts on roaming have ruffled feathers at the European Commission.

EC information society commissioner Viviane Reding hinted there has been dissent on the question of whether the new, cheaper tariffs will be applied to all users routinely, or whether customers will need to opt in.

She said in a statement: "I find it regrettable that many in the European Parliament want only new customers to profit automatically from cheaper roaming tariffs. Mobile phone penetration in the EU is today at 103 per cent - there are thus not many consumers who would profit from the EU regulation if it would apply automatically only to new customers."

Reding believes that should customers have to opt in to cheaper tariffs, many mobile users will be too passive to do so. She said: "Even though I welcome the general trend towards a fast consensus on the EU roaming regulation, I believe that this aspect merits some further reflection. The new EU roaming regulation should benefit all consumers and nobody should be left behind."

Meanwhile, Europe's mobile phone operators have been campaigning over the question of transparency, asking politicians to avoid mandating how information on new roaming tariffs should be conveyed to customers.

A group of the biggest operators in Europe, including Orange, T-Mobile and Vodafone, have sent a letter to members of the European Parliament which reads: "We note that European policymakers are now debating measures intended to improve transparency in international roaming... It is important that any final regulation should not mandate the use of a specific technology or data format for the provision of tariff information, as this may limit operators' ability to offer information by alternative means which could be more efficient and in line with customers' preferences."