UK Regulator to Look At Roaming Data Charges

About time too!
Following a recent report from the European Regulators Group, Ofcom, the UK telecoms regulator is too look at the charges for using data abroad.
The average price charged to UK users abroad was over £4 per megabyte, although prices of £7 per meg or more are charged to customers not on special tarrifs. The £4 also takes into account that some operators such as 3 have no roaming charges or lower charges where they have European partners.
Ofcom's Chief Executive acknolwedged that data roaming charges represented a significant barrier to business. With the growth of mobile email and smart phones, such as the i-Phone, it is the roaming charges that is ultimately the barrier to useage.

The report also noted that whilst calling and SMS roaming charges had come down, they are still over 3 times the cost of use at home. Not exactly a bargain.

Ofcom will be looking to see if it has the regulatory powers to deal with data charges