ITU sets tone to cut roaming charges

International Telecommunications Union (ITU) has initiated to reduce international roaming charges. In line with this, ITU members have approved a number of measures to empower consumers and encourage operators to lower tariffs.

It has recommended governments and regulators to explore ways to protect and empower consumers in determining best choices in the rapidly evolving mobile marketplace. For instance, to provide clear and transparent information on international mobile services, to send alerts to consumers as they approach a certain cost limit for roaming, with a block placed on further usage unless authorized by the user.

It has suggested to advocate market-based solutions, including cultivating regional co-operation among operators and regulators, and encouraging them to reach agreements on lowering wholesale roaming tariffs. Possible regulatory measures are also recommended, such as placing caps on prices charged to consumers for mobile roaming.

ITU Secretary General Hamadoun I. Toure said, “ITU Member States agree on the need for international action on roaming charges, and this agreement is a clear indication of a willingness to address the issue for the good of both consumers and the global trade. I believe operators will see benefits in the long term as higher volumes of traffic are generated when it becomes more attractive for consumers to use their phones and mobile services while travelling.”

"International roaming is by nature a multi-country issue, and unified action from the international community is therefore the only means to address 'bill-shock'. The issues involved and their degree vary from region to region (and also within regions), in terms of economics, market structures and regulatory frameworks. As there is no guarantee that unilateral action by one country's national regulatory authority will lead to reciprocal action in other countries, cooperation between regulators and policy makers — either bilaterally or multilaterally — is likely to be more effective than unilateral action by any one national regulatory authority," said a statement by ITU.

The World Conference on International Telecommunications (WCIT-12) in Dubai in December 2012 intends to consider proposals on international mobile roaming for inclusion in the global treaty on international telecommunications. This treaty known as the “International Telecommunication Regulations” (ITRs) is up for review for the first time since 1988 — long before the explosion of mobile communications — to take into account the vastly altered telecommunications environment, added the statement.

Proponents believe that regulations to ensure transparency of end-user prices for international mobile services, and for users to promptly receive full information when crossing a national border would lead to greater competition with potential benefits for consumers. Another proposal would ensure that prices are based on either the actual costs incurred by the service provider, or comparable to the prices charged in the user's home country, or to those charged to customers in the visited country.