Revolution in the mobile market? Closing high costs: EU to ... - ABC Online

Can we call soon from the beach cheap? The European Commission wants to abolish roaming charges. Economy Minister Roesler welcomes the reform plans, the issue of net neutrality but there is a lot of criticism.

traveling abroad can be expensive if you used his cell phone or smartphone. For so-called roaming on vacation you have usually dig deep into their pockets. Especially when next to calls and SMS mobile Internet is still used. This will change the EU Commission now (FOCUS) reported.

“We must abolish roaming charges in the common market and not simply reduce”, the EU Commissioner Neelie Kroes said on Thursday. With their plans they want to unify the telecom market.

Kroes stressed their proposals guaranteed the so-called net neutrality. “Around 200 million Europeans are excluded from using the entire Internet. We want a guaranteed right for all Europeans on a full and open internet. “

customers should be able to cancel contracts

Telecom companies should, however, continue to be allowed up faster services and ask the customer for it with extra fees to pay. If the connection is not as fast as promised by the provider, should be able to terminate the contract in the future, the EU Commissioner.

Elimination are also the hitherto usual 24-month contracts for DSL connections and mobile. In addition to consumer protection, the plan provides for the harmonization of rules for spectrum auctions in the EU countries. The Commission should receive a veto.

Is there enough time for the enforcement of reform?

Now, the European Parliament has to discuss the Commission’s plans. Also, the 28 EU member states have yet to agree. Some EU officials have already criticized, however: before the European elections in May 2014 will not stay enough time to bring reform to the way

critics as the Green MEP Jan Philipp Albrecht fear the reforms disadvantages. single Internet offers. Against the discrimination of data-intensive services such as the Internet Telefonierprogramm Skype already protected the EU competition law. At the same time, the proposals threatened the so-called net neutrality, ie the equal treatment of Internet content. “Net neutrality is impossible in Europe,” says Albrecht.

For Kroes’ plan provides that the provider of Internet content or programs may, with the Internet access providers enter into agreements. The bump on the door for preferential treatment of certain contents, Albrecht

Rösler. “Charged roaming tourists and business”

German Economics Minister Philipp Rösler (FDP) welcomed the plans of Kroes said: “The Commission’s proposals go in the right direction. For high roaming charges burden holidaymakers, business people and businesses alike. “

the topic of net neutrality Rösler spoke of” outstanding issues “. He stressed: “In the future, all data and data packets must be treated equally and forwarded as soon as possible.”