26 June 2006
Telecoms companies in Europe could soon face less regulation on prices under new draft plans drawn up by the European Union (EU), it has emerged.
Draft versions of new proposals seen by the Financial Times suggest that the telecoms industry in Europe could face fewer price controls, the paper reports.
Companies that provide local, national and international calls to retail customers could be affected by the changes, with the Financial Times suggesting that European authorities intend to reduce the hold of regulation in this area.
The newspaper claims it is part of a move to restrict national regulators from setting prices and compelling previously dominant operators to share their networks with rivals.
The deregulation drive will be presented on June 28th by the European Union's media commissioner, Viviane Reding.
In March, UK telecoms regulator Ofcom put forward proposals recommending that price controls on the home phone market should be lifted 22 years after they were first put in place.
The regulator suggested the deregulation of the market as the development of new technology and the rise of greater competition since BT's privatisation have pushed down call prices by more than 50% over the last decade.
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