Addressing the audience at the industry's annual forum, Mobile World Congress (MWC), in Barcelona, Spain, on Tuesday the top-notch telecoms official of the European Union (EU) - the EU data commissioner Neelie Kroes - outlined plans for a unified mobile market in Europe.

The move announced by Kroes is essentially aimed at slashing the powers of UK communications regulator Ofcom; and also boosting Vodafone and other cross-border mobile giants.

Highlighting the need for a unified European mobile market, Kroes said at the MWC that Europe was "falling behind" not only the US but also the countries in the East; thanks largely to the fragmented EU laws which discourage investment and competition.

Pointing out that Europe was once a leader in the wireless arena and a dominating player in the mobile devices market, Kroes said: "Yet now we are falling behind."

Meanwhile, with network chiefs having, earlier this week, complained about the burden of over-regulation in the EU mobile market, Kroes is apparently open to a lighter touch from a new European regulator.

If the move to curtail the powers of Ofcom materializes, there will potentially be fewer networks in each of the EU countries than the four preferred by most nations, including the UK.