Telecoms roaming prices lower in EU - report

BRUSSELS, Jan 17 (Reuters) - The cost of using a mobile phone abroad in Europe fell even before an EU-wide cap on roaming prices entered into force, the bloc's telecoms regulators said in a report published on Thursday.

Between April and September 2007 the average retail charge across Europe for making a roaming call dipped from 69 euro cents ($1.01) to 62 euro cents per minute billed, the European Regulators' Group said.

To receive a call abroad within the European Union, the price went down from 34 euro cents to 30 euro cents per minute billed.

According to the new EU regulation, which entered into force by the end of the summer holidays, the EU-wide maximum roaming tariff is 49 euro cents a minute for making calls abroad and 24 cents for receiving them. (Reporting by Ingrid Melander; Editing by Dale Hudson)