EC asks for suggestions on dealing with roaming rates

The European Commission has launched a consultation on its regulation of mobile roaming rates.

The cost of using a mobile phone for voice or data services while travelling in Europe has dropped significantly since the regulation was introduced in 2007, "the target set by the Digital Agenda for Europe is that the difference between roaming and national tariffs should approach zero by 2015", the Commission said in a statement on Wednesday.

Operators generally charge as much as the roaming price caps allow and "maintain unjustifiably high margins on roaming services", the Commission said.

"Huge differences between domestic and roaming charges have no place in a true EU single market," digital agenda commissioner Neelie Kroes said in the statement. "We need to address the source of current problems, namely a lack of competition, and to find a durable solution. But we are keeping an open mind on exactly what solution would work."

Kroes first trailed the consultation, which will run until 11 February, on 3 December. The Commission has to carry out its review of the roaming regulation, using responses to the consultation as a basis, by the end of June.