EU's head of digital policy raps resistance to ban on roaming fees

European Union member states came under fire from the bloc's head of digital policy for resisting efforts to scrap mobile phone roaming charges for consumers. Though the removal of the charges is a priority for the European Commission as it seeks to spur cross-border telecoms competition, EU members concerned about the effect on operators have proposed that any ban should be held back until 2018 at the earliest. "I'm waiting for the abolition of roaming surcharges, but I'm afraid (the European) Council is not ambitious enough today," said Andrus Ansip, who oversees the digital single market for the European Commission.