Mobile phone charges in the EU: follow-up report, 5th report of session 2008-09, report with evidence

The Committee reported in 2007 (17th report session 2006-07, HL paper 79-I , ISBN 9780104010549) on the proposal from the European Commission to introduce a price cap on voice roaming charges for using mobile phones across the EU. The Regulation was adopted in June 2007, and in September 2008 the Commission proposed amending it. This report examines the proposed amendments which cover caps for text message roaming and data roaming (downloading internet content to a mobile device such as a laptop or mobile phone). The Committee feels the Commission should gather more evidence to support the proposals. The sunset clause, whereby the regulation remains in force for the minimum time required (the proposal is to amend this to 2013), is still supported by the Committee, but it must be combined with better data collection as such data is critical to reviewing the effectiveness of the Regulation. The Committee is concerned at the extension of the regulation to text message and data roaming so soon after it came into effect for voice roaming, when it has not yet proved to be effective for voice roaming and without a robust evidence base. It believes that the text message and data roaming charges are likely to be excessive.