FRANKFURT (Thomson Financial) - The European Union's Telecommunications Commissioner Viviane Reding plans to introduce regulatory price caps for cross-border mobile phone text messages and other data services in Europe because mobile operators have not done enough to reduce rates, she told Welt am Sonntag.
Reding gave mobile services suppliers a July 1 deadline to cut so-called roaming rates on text messages but the average price has only fallen to 28 euro cents from 29 cents in January, which Reding said was insufficient, according to the German Sunday paper.
The commissioner plans to consult with the European Parliament and the council of ministers on what steps to take next.
Reding described a proposal by Denmark's telecommunications minister to introduce a maximum roaming price of 5 euro cents per text message as 'interesting', but declined to be more specific about the planned ceiling on rates. ludwig.burger@thomsonreuters.com lb/jlw COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Financial News Limited 2008. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Thomson Financial News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Financial News.
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