As part of an initiative by the European Regulators Group (ERG), the telecoms National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs) of the EU member states have recently sent questionnaires on International Roaming to the Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) in their respective jurisdictions. The ERG is the independent body set up by the EU Commission to advise on electronic communications regulation and comprises the heads of the NRAs.

The questionnaires sent are aimed at providing the NRAs with information that would assist them in determining whether there is a need for regulatory intervention regarding international roaming charges.

The �wholesale international roaming market� is one of the markets identified by the EU Commission (under the EU Regulatory Framework on Electronic Communications) as a market where ex-ante national regulation by the NRAs might be warranted (rather than being subject only to ex-post competition law). The information that will be gathered through the questionnaires is expected to help the NRA�s in carrying out the required market analysis (defining the �relevant market� and whether any MNO has �significant market power� in this market) and determining whether regulatory remedies are indeed warranted. For example, setting controls on the MNOs� wholesale roaming charges.

The ERG�s initiative, backed up by the EU Commission, is complementary to the EU Commission�s competition investigation into international roaming charges, which saw �statements of objections� being sent to two UK MNOs (O2 and Vodafone) in July this year.

Amit Rainhartz