NDRC starts mobile roaming fee hearing

The National Development and Reform Commission has begun holding a public hearing to look into lowering fees for mobile phone roaming within the country, Reuters reported. Two proposals for a fee-reduction are being discussed. In both cases, the current RMB0.2 (US$0.03) per minute roaming service fee would be scrapped. One of the proposed plans would see the maximum charge for roaming fees reduced by 14.9% on average, while the other would reduce the maximum charge by 63% but raise the upper limit on charges for contract users by RMB0.1 per minute. There are also differences in the plans on how the caller and call recipient would split the cost. The Ministry of Information Industry said the hearing would simplify mobile roaming fees and increase transparency.