Chief Minister Howard Quayle has confirmed that the government has no powers to force Sure or Manx Telecom to absorb mobile phone roaming charges when their customers travel off-island

Mr Quayle told the House of Keys that the current system of ’user pays’ was the ’fairest approach’.

When Sure and Manx Telecom customers are off-island, their phones use another service provider, which will then charge the Isle of Man supplier which, in turn, passes on the cost.

Some UK mobile operators have chosen to include the Isle of Man in their European roaming packages following an EU agreement to end roaming charges. It means some visitors to the Isle of Man no longer incur roaming charges when they use their phones here.

But, because the Isle of Man is not in the EU, the ruling on roaming charges does not apply for Manx customers travelling to Europe.

Lawrie Hooper (LibVannin, Ramsey) asked Mr Quayle whether he planned to review the Communications Commission’s powers so that it could investigate roaming charges.

The Chief Minister said the commission had the power to investigate but not to regulate.

Mr Quayle said both the Isle of Man operators were negotiating with off-island companies to reduce roaming charges.

He warned: ’Any attempt to impose a reduction in the roaming rates for off-island providers which our operators pass on to Isle of Man consumers could result in charges being increased.

’Non-roaming customers could end up subsidising frequent travellers or it could lead to increased call costs, broadband prices or line rental.’