news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4009637.stm

With 27 billion text messages sent by Italy’s residents last year, even a small surtax could raise a fortune. But Italians – who own more mobile phones and send more text messages per head of population than any other nation – are unlikely to support it. The plan was put forward as a way to help Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi fulfil election promises to cut taxes.