EC launches bid to slash mobile roaming charges

The European Commission announced on Tuesday that it wouldpresent draft regulation by the middle of the year aimed at cuttingmobile phone roaming charges in Europe by more than half.

European Information Society Commissioner Viviane Reding willsubmit a proposal in June that would force mobile operators tocharge the same rates for calls made on another country’s networkas they do for domestic calls, ending international roaming chargesas they exist today, she said.

The current level of roaming charges imposed by operators isunjustified, Reding said. “I am not prepared to stand on thesidelines,” she said.

Roaming charges levied by some operators range from