Telecom watchdogs said today they have major doubts about European Commission plans to cut the price of using a mobile phone from abroad.
In March, EU Information Society and Media Commissioner Viviane Reding promised to end international roaming charges, or the fee added to calls dialled from abroad, in 2007.
The European Regulators Group, which represents all national telecom regulators in the European Union, said it backed plans to regulate wholesale prices - charged between operators - but not the retail prices charged to consumers.
"While the ERG supports the commission's objectives, it has significant reservations about the regulatory mechanisms proposed by the EC," the group said.
"The ERG continues to favour wholesale regulation. Retail regulation often has unexpected consequences and is inconsistent with the general approach taken to regulation within the EU."
The group wants retail regulation only if wholesale price reductions have not been passed on to consumers.
Vodafone and Deutsche Telekom's T-Mobile have already announced plans to cut roaming charges by about 40 per cent, a step the group noted in its statement.
