The governments of the European Union have given their approval to a proposal to reduce the cost of mobile messaging (SMS) and data downloading when abroad.
The idea is to reduce the cost of using a mobile phone when abroad (roaming) and the specific proposal put forward is to reduce the cost of an SMS from the current average of €0.29 to a more reasonable €0.11 maximum (excluding VAT/IVA) and data downloading to €1.00 per megabyte.
Spain and the Czech Republic are against the proposal, fearing that it could prompt some operators to raise other types of mobile charges. The proposal now has to go before the European Parliament.