China announced on Wednesday that the country will set the ceiling of mobile phone domestic roaming fees at 0.6 yuan, or 8.3 US cents, per minute for outbound calls, and 0.4 yuan, or about 5 US cents, for inbound calls.
The country's move to cut such charges is in response to increasing complaints from mobile phone users about the telecom industry reaping handsome profits by charging monopolistic prices.
Previously, a public hearing was held on cutting charges for domestic mobile roaming services in January to discuss proposed plans. The hearing was attended by five consumers, representatives from mobile service providers, experts, scholars and relevant government officials. Here's a consumer representative named Zhang Yanfang who attended the hearing.
"Surely the final plan will bring benefits to consumers. However, we expect to continue with the reform of mobile roaming fees, even that of mobile fees. And we believe the initiative step should be taken to change the two-way charging system to one-way charging system."
Telecom operators are required to adopt the new pricing scheme as of March 1. Those who fail to re-calibrate the pricing structure may be able to postpone enacting the standard until May 1, after receiving official permission. |
|
