EU Tackles High Roaming Fees With... A Web Site
The EU has launched a web site detailing the international roaming fees users in its 25 member nations pay when they travel, hoping that by providing the clarity and transparency operators aren't, prices will be forced down. It's an interesting regulatory technique: instead of simply mandating lower prices -- which they may later do -- EU regulators think that by merely exposing the high cost of roaming to the public, mobile operators will be shamed into cutting call costs. While operators will be loath to give up the high roaming fees, there's also an opportunity to grab some customers by implementing reduced tariffs in a simpler structure. Though, of course, confusing pricing is a hallmark of many operators.
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