European commissioner promises single mobile market by 2015

[V-Tech]

As much as Europe can hope for deeper integration, it doesn't feel that way when citizens get whacked for hefty roaming rates. European digital commissioner Neelie Kroes has got such charges in her sights, telling business leaders that she's planning to push through a single mobile telecoms market before she retires in 2015. She told European Business summit that she had "no intention to retire until [she'd] knocked down all the barriers to a single market," which was her "major priority" for the rest of her term. Hopefully those on that side of the pond will never again have to fork out $8 per day just to check Vine.

http://www.engadget.com/2013/05/20/neelie-kroes-single-eu-mobile-market/

[HawkMan]

Would be good, not something I need much, but it could be useful in the future. Europe has already done a lot of work in this area and you generally won't go broke from roaming in Europe though.

still getting more and more of europes fragmented sub markets into single markets is a good thing.

[jakem1]

Yes please. This is sorely needed.

Would be good, not something I need much, but it could be useful in the future. Europe has already done a lot of work in this area and you generally won't go broke from roaming in Europe though.

still getting more and more of europes fragmented sub markets into single markets is a good thing.

You're right. Some progress has been made but it's still expensive to make calls around Europe and data is far too expensive to use when roaming. It's a real pain losing access to online services such as email, maps and internet access because roaming charges are prohibitive. The limitations imposed by carriers are artificial and it's great to hear that the EU wants to try and do something to fix this once and for all.

[HawkMan]

roaming in europe is still pennies compared to outside europe though :)

over here in the Nordic countries several companies already offer same price roaming across the borders.

[Sandor]

Single markets for economic purposes = good.

[FloatingFatMan]

Single markets for economic purposes = good.

We're already meant to be a single market in Europe. These phone company crooks broke that.

[HawkMan]

We're already meant to be a single market in Europe. These phone company crooks broke that.

ummm every market is broken up. phone, food, farming, electronics, motor vehicles, TV, music, digital content... basically everything.

[Sandor]

We're already meant to be a single market in Europe. These phone company crooks broke that.

The EU/EEA initially was a common market and is progressing towards a single market, but it isn't one yet.

[jakem1]

over here in the Nordic countries several companies already offer same price roaming across the borders.

Unfortunately we're not all as forward-thinking as Scandinavia :(

[theyarecomingforyou]

The EU is typically very tough on anti-competitive / anti-consumer business practices, so I'm not surprised to see talk of a single mobile market. It's one of the reasons that UKIP's recent surge in popularity has me concerned, as so many people in the UK take for granted the benefits provided by EU membership. In my opinion the UK should be moving closer to Europe, not further away.

[HawkMan]

Unfortunately we're not all as forward-thinking as Scandinavia :(

Well it's helped by the fact that most of our telecoms operate in all three countries either as the same company or under a different name, and heavy competition.

[epk]

Well, should be good. I don't know in other places (it's expensive in South America, but so is everything else, technology related) but roaming is still expensive in Europe. I mean, you can get 1gb of data in many countries for around 10 euros, but if you roam they still charge you for each mb used!

Calls aren't so bad however, I remember when I got some credit left from Saunalahti (Finnish provider) I could call back to Finland from Iceland for over five mins with lil more than an euro.

[theyarecomingforyou]

Well, should be good. I don't know in other places (it's expensive in South America, but so is everything else, technology related) but roaming is still expensive in Europe. I mean, you can get 1gb of data in many countries for around 10 euros, but if you roam they still charge you for each mb used!

It's better than it was though, thanks to the EC Roaming Regulations.

[epk]

It's better than it was though, thanks to the EC Roaming Regulations.

It really has improved a lot, but looking at the planned upcoming changes, it can be way better.