Brussels, 20/10/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 20 October, the European Commission asked the German telecoms regulator (Bundesnetzagentur - BNetzA) for the fifth time to amend or withdraw its proposal on mobile termination rates (MTRs).
The Commission is unhappy that the MTRs that BNetzA has suggested introducing for operator 'sipgate Wireless' are up to 80% higher than the roaming charges in other member states. EU Digital Agenda Commissioner Neelie Kroes said: “I am very concerned by the fact that Germany continues to ignore the reasonable demands of the European Commission - setting it apart from all other Member States. Its approach towards mobile termination rates flies in the face of the internal market, and is detrimental to consumers.” The Commission says that should BNetzA continue its approach and fail to comply with the Commission's recommendation, the Commission will undertake appropriate legal steps. On 7 April 2014, it requested that BNetzA to withdraw or amend its measure where it set the methodology to set price caps for sipgate Wireless as it deviated from the Commission recommended methodology (see EUROPE 11055). (IL)