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EU considers 'fair use' roaming proposal - report
2014-09-24 09:11:00| Telecompaper Headlines
(Telecompaper) There will be no change in wholesale roaming rates in the EU under a review of the system in 2016, according to a draft proposal from the Italian presidency of the European Council seen by the Financial Times. While retail roaming prices will still be cut as proposed, there could be a loophole that allows only a "fair use" allowance for customers before they need to start paying extra for using their phones abroad. Based on the average roaming usage in the EU, this would give customers a minimum amount of roaming at their domestic rates, before operators could charge extra for services abroad. The proposals mark the latest attempts to agree a European single market for electronic communications, known as the Connected Continent proposals. The paper also lays out proposals for long-term spectrum licences, with all new rights to be for a minimum 25 years. The proposals will need to be negotiated by member states. Neelie Kroes, the outgoing commission vice-president who announced the original proposals to look at roaming rates, said: "We feel the Italian presidency text has all the essential building blocks needed to push the telecoms market forward: ending roaming, a net neutrality guarantee, more co-operation on spectrum and consumer protection. It lacks some of the ambition of the commission text but it's a good basis for further negotiations."
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Category:Telecommunications