EU Commissions introduces program for lowering the prices of the roaming services in the EU
New lower prices for the roaming services in Europe – this is the idea behind the new plan called “Connected Continent.” The program is the new proposal from the EU Commission to encourage decreasing of the roaming charges and the boasting of the networks’ speed. The goal of the EU Commission is to make the roaming services and the broadband services more affordable for customers. The other main goal of the program is to encourage the improvement of their quality.
It is needless to say that while EU citizens appreciated the idea, the new plan is not well accepted by the mobile operators in Europe. The mobile operators have already expressed their fear of significant business losses if the “Connected Continent” program gets accepted. The position of the EU Commission remains solid for now. It is supporting the project and the idea behind it. One of the main goals in the EU is the developing of the so called “Paneuropean Telecoms Single Market” that will give new possibilities for business development for the carriers. It is expected to lower the prices of mobile services for customers. The relatively high current roaming charges are one of the obstacles for the realizing of this concept.
Recently, the digital agenda commissioner Neelie Kroes made a statement, saying: “… the European Commission says no to roaming premiums, yes to net neutrality, yes to investment, yes to new jobs. Fixing the telecoms sector is no longer about this one sector but about supporting the sustainable development of all sectors.”
The expected benefits of the concept for the Telecoms Single Market include expectations for 1% yearly GDP growth. For now the mobile market in the EU is still behind the well developed US market and the fast developing markets in Asia. The purposed prices for roaming services in the “Connected Continent” program include €0.19 per minute for outgoing calls. The time frame for the project includes its gradual introduction until 2016.
Source: Europa
