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Russia, Norway to cut roaming prices

Mobile phone antennas in the Russian border town of Zapolyarny. Photo: Thomas Nilsen

The costs of mobile roaming must be reduced to a reasonable level, according to a Norwegian, Russian governmental commission.

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The costs of mobile roaming must be reduced to a reasonable level, according to a Norwegian, Russian governmental commission.

The extreme prices today scares people from making phone calls when traveling between Norway and Russia. Just sending a SMS to the people at home will today cost a Norwegian €0,53. Data-traffic from a smartphone is even more expensive; a MB is charged €15. For that, you can hardly download a few e-mails.

The high roaming cost is now an issue on governmental level. At a March meeting in Moscow between Norwegian Minister of Trade and Industry Trond Giske and Russian First deputy Prime Minister Victor Zubkov, the two parties agreed to prepare a memorandum with measures to reduce the roaming prices between Norway and Russia, the minutes from the meeting reads.

No details on the future costs or timeframe for its implementation are given.