TOO EXPENSIVE TO SAY "WISH YOU WERE HERE!"

1.46.33pm UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 28th Mar 2006

South East Liberal Democrat MEP Sharon Bowles today welcomed proposals from the European Commission to cut the cost of using mobile phones abroad.

"The ludicrous cost of receiving or calling from a mobile phone abroad has been left to burn a hole in consumers' pockets for far too long. Although we are all supposed to be part of a single market where we can work and travel freely, consumers and businesses alike continue to pay ridiculously high prices for using their mobile phone on the Continent"

"Although British mobile customers are not the worst off in Europe, the Commission's investigations have shown that British travellers are still paying excessive prices. Within the last six months one UK mobile operator has increased its prices for calling home to the UK from £2.37 to £3.39 - that's an increase of 43%!

"The main element of this proposal means that operators would not be allowed to charge an international roaming cost that is higher than that imposed nationally. It is a myth that the cost of processing this is more, and it is outrageous that mobile operators have got away with this for so long.

"As summer approaches many from the South East will be heading to the Continent for their holidays and will be hit hard by extortionate prices. We want to ensure that they will not be returning to a mobile phone bill that cost the same as their holiday."

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