European Operators Slash Mobile Data Roaming Rates

In a move which is generally considered to be a pre-emptive move to evade further regulatory pressures, five mobile operators with networks covering 10 European markets and a population of more than 295 million - 60 per cent of the European Union's total 495 million have announced significant cuts to their mobile data roaming tariffs.

KPN in the Netherlands, Belgian operator BASE and German operator E-Plus have joined Play in Poland and 3 in the UK, Italy, Ireland, Austria, Sweden and Denmark to agree a wholesale rate of EUR0.25 per MB of data downloaded. The new wholesale price will be introduced by the five initial participants on 1 March 2008.

The European average retail roaming rate is currently at EUR5.24 per MB.

"This will allow us to pass on the significant savings achieved through a simple, transparent and competitive wholesale tariff to our customers across the EU," said Stan Miller, President and CEO of KPN Mobile Group. "Our companies in Germany and Belgium have supported the initiatives of Mrs Reding to make mobile telephony affordable. Voice roaming was one example. Now it's time to support the demand for data roaming across the EU. This deal is a start. It reaches across 10 countries. We hope that other operators in more markets will act too."

National regulators and the European Commission have called for the industry to act to end excessive prices, promising action at the regulatory level should the market fail to deliver.

Posted to the site on 7th February 2008