The EC's position on data roaming

This issue, as you will know, is a constant bugbear for business travellers and, well, anyone wanting to take advantage of the shiny new services'n' surfing that mobile content providers (and corporate IT departments) are so keen to promote. ZDNet UK has covered it extensively in the past and will, I can assure you, continue to do so.

So, at the Westminster eForum on telecoms regulation today, I had the opportunity to ask Nigel Hickson, the DTI's deputy director on EU ICT policy and regulation, what the government and European Commission were intending to do about the situation. There's a major review of such things (mercifully including voice roaming) going on at the EC, y'know, although data roaming is conspicuously absent from the draft.

"The Commission have said they will monitor this very carefully and report back," was his reply. Splendid then! So when senior carrier execs admit they're "screwing" their customers on data roaming, as happened not too long ago, I'm sure Commissioner Reding et al are taking notes.