The message to mobile phone operators in Malta from the European Commission on the issue of reducing roaming tariffs is “get it done, it is the law”.

European Commissioner for Information Society and Media Viviane Reding, speaking at a press conference at the Portomaso Hilton yesterday, said: “There is no choice in the matter. It is law and it will have to be observed.”

Commissioner Reding said that EU regulation came into force on 30 June, citing input from Malta’s Communications Minister Censu Galea and Malta Labour Party MEP Joseph Muscat as being “instrumental” to the cause.

Commissioner Reding said that operators have until the end of this month to have packages ready and offered to clients. “Some European networks have already implemented roaming tariffs which are lower than the benchmark we set. The early bird catches the worm; it is up to the networks to turn this into an opportunity to attract more clients,” said Commissioner Reding.

She explained that Europe does not normally interfere in the market. “But this time, we had a case of market failure. The operators, despite prodding, did not act – so we did,” she said.

The Commissioner said that she always used Malta as an example in the cause to get tariffs down. “It is incredible; Malta showed just how high roaming costs could be. If a Maltese person in Latvia made a four-minute call home, it would cost them EUR11.21. That same call from an Irish tourist making a call home from Malta would cost EUR11.96,” she said. “This was punishment. Punishment for Maltese people going abroad and punishment for tourists who came here,” she added.

Commissioner Reding explained that retroactive to 30 June, the new euro tariff benchmark was in effect whereby calls made from abroad must cost 25 cents (Maltese) or less per minute, while calls received would be 12 cents (Maltese) or less, taxes included. By the end of July, all operators in Europe will have had to offer the Euro Tariff plan to all customers. “And I reiterate, get it done before,” she stressed.

The Malta Independent posed a question to the Commissioner about the regulation being in force for only three years. TMID asked whether the Commission thought that the situation would revert to how it is at present once the three-year time frame is up, bearing in mind that it is an open market that has always been characterised by high prices. “Europe will be monitoring all countries and all providers. It is law, it has to be applied; however, we do believe that the move will create competition,” she said.

She continued: “Next year, the Commission will have a report in its hands on the evolution of the markets. I, as Commissioner, will then take the report into account and decide to either allow the three-year law to die out naturally, or we can continue with it.

“It is up to the operators. The choice of whether operators want to remain regulated or not is entirely up to them. They should also not forget that number portability is now a European right. If there is an offer, people can take it and take their number with them. Again, the early bird catches the worm,” she said.

Rapporteur MEP Paul Rubig also spoke and said that another proposal which Europe would like to see is flat rates for a total package, SMS, data, MMS and voice calls. “It is more transparent and market research shows that is what the consumer wants,” he said.

The Commission’s roaming site provides information on how to get the euro tariff and more on: http://ec.europa.eu/ roaming/