T-Mobile Working To Reduce Data Charges; Vodafone CEO Says No Regulation Needed
By Dianne See Morrison - Mon 04 Feb 2008 07:40 AM PST
T-Mobile is working to get an agreement between Europe’s largest mobile operators over the wholesale prices they charge one another for carrying internet data, in a bid to get Brussels off their backs, reports the Telegraph.co.uk. T-Mobile is expected to lower roaming prices later this month, and is working on a wholesale price plan that will see consumer prices cut as well.
EU telecoms boss Vivian Reding--fresh from her victory over the inflated cost of mobile roaming charges--has threatened regulatory action if operators do not reduce the price of mobile data roaming charges. The UK’s regulator Ofcom echoed her criticism a few days ago, noting that UK mobile users pay on average £4.11 ($8.22) per megabit.
Several operators, including Telefonica (NYSE: TEF) and Vodafone (NYSE: VOD) have already reduced their mobile roaming data prices. On Friday, Vodafone launched a new data roaming plan charging a flat rate of £9.99 for a 24 hour period. The Telegraph.co.uk reports that Vodafone CEO Arun Sarin, has hit out at Ofcom’s criticisms. “The data roaming market is very competitive,” Sarin said. “Six months ago we brought out a €12 (£9) all-you-can-eat-a-day roaming tariff; T-Mobile, Telefonica and others have other competitive products of their own… There will be no need for any regulation… I don’t see any need for interference here.”
Posted in: Companies, Operators, O2, T-Mobile, Vodafone, Countries, Europe, UK, Legal, Regulatory
