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Business finances could be boosted by roaming decision
12/04/2007
Companies could save money on their telecoms operations if new rules on mobile phone charges are approved by the European Union.
Employers could see their bills for mobile calls made by travelling staff slashed by up to 70 per cent if the European parliament passes legislation to curb roaming charges imposed by service providers.
A committee is set to vote on the issue this week after the European Commission revealed that telecoms firms make profits of about £5.7 billion every year from transcontinental calls.
Euro MP Paul Rubig told the BBC: "We have one member state where at present you pay five euro cents per minute."
He added: "If you go outside this member state and phone home, you pay three euros"
A spokesperson for mobile phone operators' lobby group GSM argued that roaming costs are already declining due to increased competition between network providers and pointed out that frequent travellers can make use of special deals.
Employers could see their bills for mobile calls made by travelling staff slashed by up to 70 per cent if the European parliament passes legislation to curb roaming charges imposed by service providers.
A committee is set to vote on the issue this week after the European Commission revealed that telecoms firms make profits of about £5.7 billion every year from transcontinental calls.
Euro MP Paul Rubig told the BBC: "We have one member state where at present you pay five euro cents per minute."
He added: "If you go outside this member state and phone home, you pay three euros"
A spokesperson for mobile phone operators' lobby group GSM argued that roaming costs are already declining due to increased competition between network providers and pointed out that frequent travellers can make use of special deals.