23 May 2007

Members of the European parliament (MEPs) have approved new laws which cut the cost of mobile calls made by consumers made while they are abroad.

MEPs backed plans to cap so-called "roaming" charges in the European Union (EU) in a vote held this morning.

Mobile phone operators had argued against the move by claiming the market is best left to regulate itself through competition, but Europe's lawmakers decided to take action to force prices down after finding significant differences in the amount which people have to pay for using their handsets in different EU countries.

Despite protests from mobile companies that capping roaming costs could drive up domestic bills for consumers, MEPs approved plans introducing price limits for mobiles being used abroad over the next three years.