Furthermore, the absolute level of mobile termination rates remains high in a number of Member States compared to those applied in a number of countries outside of the European Union, and also compared to fixed termination rates generally, thus continuing to translate into high, albeit decreasing, prices for end-consumers.

High termination prices are ultimately recovered through higher call charges for end-users.

High termination prices are ultimately recovered through higher call charges for end-users.

Furthermore, the absolute level of mobile termination rates remains high in a number of Member States compared to those applied in a number of countries outside of the European Union, and also compared to fixed termination rates generally, thus continuing to translate into high, albeit decreasing, prices for end-consumers.

The European Regulators Group (ERG) established by Commission Decision 2002/627/EC (2) recognised this in its Common Position on symmetry of fixed call termination rates and symmetry of mobile call termination rates.

When imposing price control and cost-accounting obligations in accordance with Article 13 of Directive 2002/19/EC on the operators designated by National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs) as having significant market power on the markets for wholesale voice call termination on individual public telephone networks (hereinafter referred to as ‘fixed and mobile termination markets’) as a result of a market analysis carried out in accordance with Article 16 of Directive 2002/21/EC, NRAs should set termination rates based on the costs incurred by an efficient operator.