Spain's Telefonica cuts roaming data fees

MADRID, Jan 14 (Reuters) - Spanish telecoms firm Telefonica (TEF.MC: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) said on Monday it halved the cost of sending text messages home from anywhere in the EU for mobile customers in Spain, the UK, Germany, the Czech Republic and Ireland.

The operator said the new price, down to 32 cents, excluding VAT, would apply to both contract and prepay O2 and Movistar customers in those countries from early February.

In a statement, the operator said business travellers could also sign up to a new roaming bundle for data transfer -- a flat fee of 50 euros ($74.34) for 50 megabytes of data.

The bundle is immediately available to customers in Spain, the UK, the Czech Republic and Ireland and will be introduced in Germany in the second quarter. (Reporting by Sarah Morris; Editing by Paul Bolding)