The European Commission (EC) is calling for German regulator BNetzA to drop planned increases to fixed termination rates that are 300% above the European average.
A three month review of the plan has failed to change the EC’s stance that it should be amended, or dropped completely to prevent higher costs being passed on to consumers. BNetzA is implementing termination fees of €0.0025 per minute off peak, and €0.0036 peak, well above the average €0.001 per minute the EC claims operators pay in member states that follow its rules.
"EU telecoms rules require Member States to promote competition, protect EU consumers' interests and further the Single Market,” EC vice president Neelie Kroes explains, adding. “I cannot accept an approach to setting termination rates which goes against these principles and objectives.”