Brussels, 09/02/2009 (Agence Europe) - Several incumbent operators (British Telecom, Vodafone, Telecom Italia, Deutsche Telekom) and equipment makers (Nokia and Ericsson) met European Commission President José Manuel Barroso, Telecommunications Commissioner Viviane Reding and Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes in Brussels on Thursday 5 February to discuss the situation in the industry and how to get out of the current economic and financial crisis. The operators tried to get the Commission to alter its new proposal on roaming charges, which is in the process of being adopted, and, in particular, to extend the phase-in period to 2015, rather than 2012. Barroso and the two commissioners were united, however, in refusing to postpone the measures, according to Reuters. “The commissioners in charge were unusually united and did not give an inch on the timing,” said a source who attended the meeting. “It is completely incomprehensible how the proposals on the termination rates fit into the current environment of an economic crisis,” lamented a telecoms sector representative. The Commission's proposals will reduce the profits of operators who currently make up to 20% of their revenue from mobile termination rates. The Commission wants to regulate these rates, reducing what it sees as the current too high prices. The proposal is currently being scrutinised in the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers is expected to give its backing at the next Telecoms Council at the end of March. The meeting also discussed other points, such as the guidelines that Commissioner Reding is to publish this autumn for encouraging investment in next generation networks. The operators were also unhappy about the guidelines, not wishing to grant competitors access to their networks at prices they deem to be too low. (I.L./transl.rt)