Phone Companies Need to Answer OFCOM's Call

12.54.52pm UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 1st Feb 2008

You may have been enjoying cheaper mobile phone calls while on holiday, but did you still get caught out with web surfing or email charges? The UK competition watchdog Ofcom has told mobile phone operators to reduce their data roaming charges.

South East Lib Dem MEP Sharon Bowles welcomes the attention of Ofcom to mobile data roaming charges. She said "Last year the EU brought in legislation to force down charges for roaming calls. At that time we told the operators that they needed to do something about data charges or we would be back!"

"With phone charges the companies were warned at the beginning, and still they hung on to the very last moment when our legislation kicked in. They will face an even more hostile environment if the European Parliament has to go the distance and legislate again."

"This is an appalling way for any company to behave. I hope they reflect on the fact that the European Parliament did not back down on call charges, and will now review their data charges urgently and with good grace. I say, again to the phone companies, get ready to drop your prices - you have been warned!"

Notes for Editors:

Data charges could not be included in last year´s proposals, because the Commission had done the impact assessment on phone calls but not data.