Neelie Kroes, VP for the EC’s Digital Agenda, plans to table further proposals to curb data-roaming charges because existing caps have had little impact on retail prices.
“(While) I would by far prefer to rely on competition based on market forces alone…
Neelie Kroes, VP for the EC’s Digital Agenda, plans to table further proposals to curb data-roaming charges because existing caps have had little impact on retail prices.
“(While) I would by far prefer to rely on competition based on market forces alone to ensure that the market operates, rather than engage in further regulation, the fact is the industry has not to date given me much hope that this would happen,” Kroes said in a media interview.
Since 1 July 2010, operators in the EU have been subject to a mobile roaming data bill cap of E50. Providers are also required to inform consumers when they reach 80% of this limit.
In addition, the EC is preparing to publish proposals this summer on how to ensure there is no difference between national and roaming charges by 2015.
Calls for cloud standardisation
Kroes has also called for further collaboration from governments and industry to standardise cloud computing regulations across Europe.
Speaking in Brussels for the launch of US tech giant Microsoft’s cloud computing research centre on 22 March, Kroes warned there is still much to be done to fully exploit this relatively new technology.
“It is going to take partnership between industry and government, and European leadership, to ensure that Europe is not merely open or just friendly to cloud providers, but that there is a European effort to actively create the best environment for all parties,” she said.
Pointing to research recently published by the World Economic Forum, she added that 90% of suppliers and users of cloud services cite risks to privacy as a “very serious” impediment to wide adoption of the technology.
For this reason, Kroes praised Microsoft’s “work as a catalyst” to address these issues of trust, and also concerns over cloud interoperability.
Announcing the opening of the company’s Cloud and Interoperability Center (CIC) in Brussels, Jean-Philippe Courtois, president of Microsoft International, said his group saw a strong future ahead for a “robust and dynamic” European cloud economy “We view investment in this Cloud and Interoperability Center as an important part of Microsoft’s role in working to lead a proactive cloud computing strategy for Europe,” said Courtois.
“We are helping to drive the adoption of cloud computing by people, governments and businesses, working closely with our extensive network of partners and developers. Now is the time to embrace change – cloud computing presents a huge opportunity to fuel economic growth of the region.” Kroes pledged to continue efforts to develop a “standardisation roadmap”, adding the EC recognised that the “Holy Grail is actually finding global solutions, working through bodies like the G20 and others”.
She announced plans to launch a consultation on 23 May that will seek to engage major cloud users to find ways of coordinating the EC’s standardisation plans.
