EU plans to cancel roaming charges (Europe)
Mobile users tend to switch of their mobile phones while travelling abroad owing to the high roaming charges. Keeping this in mind, the European Commission will be introducing new rules causing mobile operators to reduce their roaming rates.
As per reports, the new policy will require consumers to pay a maximum of $ 0.38 per minute for a call and a charge of $ 0.9 for every MB of data downloaded across Europe.
Reports reveal that Commissioner Neelie Kroes said that consumers are fed up with being ripped off. Kroes added that the new roaming deal gives a long-term structural solution with lower prices, more choice and a new smart approach for data and internet browsing.
The new rules will be effective from July.
EU asks Google to delay consolidation of privacy policy (Europe, USA)
European regulatory group, Article 29 Working Party, has reportedly asked internet search engine Google, to postpone its plan to consolidate its privacy policy in a letter addressed to Larry Page, CEO, Google. According to reports, Google had announced that it plans to consolidate over 60 privacy policies into one universal policy that will govern its entire product range.
Google planned to launch the new policy from 1 March 2012; however, the regulatory group has reportedly asked the internet giant to pause its changed policy in order to ensure that there can be no misunderstanding about Google’s commitments to information rights of their users and EU citizens.
In response, Google claimed that they will continue with the scheduled date as they have maintained that there will be no changes in the privacy policy. Further, the firm also said that they had briefed most of the members of the working party in the weeks leading up to the announcement and none of them expressed substantial concerns at the time.
Cosmote Romania launches three new data roaming add-ons
Cosmote Romania has launched three new postpaid data roaming add-ons.
The offer is available for Cosmote Romania subscribers who travel to EU countries, Liechtenstein, Norway and Iceland (countries included in the operator’s ‘Group 1′ corresponding to its ‘Roaming Avantaj’ tariff scheme).
Dubbed ‘Roaming Internet,’ the add-ons can be acquired on top of existing data subscriptions. Three ‘Roaming Internet’ add-ons are available, namely 25 MB, 50 MB, and 100 MB for US$14.09 (VAT excluded), US$21.13 or US$35.22 per week. Over-the-limit traffic is charged with US$2.81 per MB.
Telefonica O2 Czech Republic slashes data roaming rates
Telefonica O2 Czech Republic has slashed its rates for data abroad and reduced the package Eurodata 250 MB.
The price decrease to US$27.65 is valid from April 1st to September 30th. The package can be activated by new and existing customers of postpaid services. O2 lowered also basic rates.
When travelling within the EU, 1 MB costs US$1.38, which is claimed to be the most beneficial offer in the market.
In the European non-EU countries, 1 MB was reduced to US$13.82 and in other countries of the world to US$17.28.
Dutch ministry begins consultation on Telecom Act changes
The Dutch ministry of economic affairs has initiated an internet consultation on the draft decision amending parts of the Telecommunications Act. The amendments will be made in association with the implementation of changes in the European regulatory framework for electronic communications (NRF).
Amendments are made necessary as a result of revised directives, specifically in the area of interoperability, peripheral devices and radio equipment, universal service and end-user interests, compensation under the Telecommunications Act and conditional access.
The main changes include:
1. The Interoperability Decision, concerning access and use of numbers within the EU;
2. The Decision covering universal service and end-user interests, concerning the planning of a number of services to ensure equal access for disabled users, requirements over the quality and affordability of such services, and how to share out reimbursement of specific services
Roaming charges for calls between Finland and Russia to drop
Finnish Minister of Communications, Suvi Lind©n and Russian Minister for Communications and Mass Media, Igor Shchegolev have hit a policy agreement on roaming charges between the two countries.
Business delegations involved in the negotiations discussed the implementation timetable and pricing schedule for roaming charges. Mobile telecommunications operators have been ordered to agree on these details by the 1st May. The roaming charge specified by the EU has been set as the reference pricing level.
According to minister Lind©n, the result of these negotiations is a major step forward for co-operation between their countries and proof that similar forms of co-operation can be used in many different areas. The price reductions will very apparent in the phone bills for all Finns and Russians using telephone or data services while travelling in either country.
The Finnish delegation is comprised of mobile telecommunications operator and equipment manufacturer representatives. The Russian delegation includes three executives from a major telecommunications company.
Hungary, Spain to implement GSM Directive in full
The European Commission has formally requested Hungary and Spain to comply in full with the EU’s updated GSM Directive by ensuring that the 900MHz frequency band can be used for 3G services. Member of States had agreed to implement the amended GSM Directive into national law by 9th May 2010
The requests to Hungary and Spain are in the form of reasoned opinions under EU infringement procedures. If Hungary and/or Spain fail to inform the Commission of measures taken to comply with their obligations under the amended GSM within two months, the Commission could decide to refer them to the Court of Justice and request the Court to impose financial penalties.
Hungary and Spain have not yet adopted or notified the Commission of national measures. As a result, mobile telecoms operators in these countries are potentially denied access to radio frequencies in the 900 MHz band for UMTS services and customers are potentially denied access to high-speed mobile internet services. The Commission has, therefore, today decided to formally request these countries to take appropriate measures within two months to implement the updated GSM Directive in full.
The European Commission will continue to monitor the effective implementation of the GSM Directive in all EU countries to ensure that GSM spectrum bands are made available for 3G technology, taking into account any potential competitive distortions that could occur.
Vodafone to invest $699.25 mn in Romania
Vodafone Group CEO, Vittorio Colao has announced that the company is planning to invest over $699.25 million in Romania in the next five years at a meet.
Vodafone Romania officials stated that the meeting’s subject was the evolution of the telecommunications sector in Romania and its prospects. Among the projects, the aforementioned investments will go into a concerning network operation centres that will provide technical services to both Vodafone Romania as well as Vodafone units in other countries.
Vodafone has also shown its interest into a future collaboration for the use of US$117.47 million in EU funds for the expansion of its broadband internet infrastructure in areas that lack broadband connectivity in Romania, the so-called white areas.
