Brussels, 15/07/2008 (Agence Europe) - Viviane Reding has a promise to keep. Given the disappointing prices for sending text messages, the Commissioner announced on Tuesday 15 July that the European Commission would immediately develop measures for, “guaranteeing consumers a genuine single market for sending messages from mobiles”. The Commissioner for media and audio-visual affairs said that they had initially only regulated voice mail and those from planes but had hoped that a clear message would have been sent out and understood by the operators, who were being invited to sort things out. She regretted that, “a year later, it is very clear that the operators don't want to self-regulate”.
The figures published by the Commission on Tuesday show that 2.5 billion text messages are sent every year by roaming customers in the EU but cost over 10 times more than domestic short messages (SMS). The average cost of a roaming text message in the EU between October 2007 and March 2008 was €0.29 according to the European Regulators' Group (ERG), but can be as high as €0.80 for travellers from Belgium. One operator in Austria responded to the Commission's appeal by proposing offers of 100 text messages for EUR 0.10 per message as from 16 June. This effort is far from being unanimous. According to the ERG, “acceptable” maximum prices should be between EUR 0.11-015 for text messages. The ERG says that there should be additional legislation for roaming data but calls for close price monitoring to avoid additional regulation for prices. The Commission wants to put an end to “bill shocks” for customers who use a mobile roaming connection for internet. Prices in this area are still between EUR 0.25 and EUR 16 per MB. Retail prices are preventing SMEs and those in small EU countries from proposing competitive packages for their customers. In an effort to tackle the immediate concerns of customers, the Commission has published a new website on roaming to ensure price transparency. This shows what prices customers currently have to pay for sending messages or surfing on the internet on their mobiles while abroad in another EU Member State. The Commission has announced that it will submit a proposal to the Council and Parliament this autumn. Viviane Reding declared that she would do all she could to pave the way for a political agreement before the end of the French presidency. (I.L./trans/rh)