Mobile operators submit pay plan to Brussels

The UK’s largest mobile operators are preparing to submit plans for a mobile payment system for European regulatory consideration next week, although they will face continued opposition from rival company Three.

Everything Everywhere, Vodafone and O2 have agreed to submit their plans to Brussels for approval next week after months of discussion. They have held exploratory talks with European regulators about the joint platform of mobile payments in the UK, code-named Project Oscar, and hope for approval in advance of the rumored launch of the Google Wallet payment system. However, Three – the UK mobile operator owned by Hong Kong’s Hutchison Whampoa – will continue to object to the process after the end of talks to join the platform, which it views as discriminatory. The operators say that the platform will be run independently and open to all.