Graham Watson - Liberal Democrat MEP for South-West England and Gibraltar

South West MEP welcomes end to rip off roaming mobile charges

10.24.10am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 30th Mar 2006

Mobile Phone

The Commission's proposals are good news for tourists and businesses using mobiles on the Continent

Graham Watson, the Lib Dem MEP for the South West and Gibraltar, has welcomed the proposals from the Commission to bring down international roaming charges.

"Although we are all supposed to be part of a single market where we can work and travel freely, individual travellers and businesses continue to pay ridiculously high prices for using their mobile phones on the Continent.

"Although British mobile customers are not the worst off in Europe, the Commission's investigations have shown that British travellers are still paying excessive prices. Despite warnings from the Commission, within the last six months one UK mobile operator has increased its prices for calling home to the UK from £2.37 to £3.39 - that's an increase of 43%!

"There is no technical explanation for this and I am pleased to see the 'home pricing' principle being supported. This will fully open up European markets to proper and fair competition as European mobile operators will have to compete with each other on equal terms.

"This is good news for tourists and business travellers alike and I look forward to the full proposal later this summer."

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