New roaming rules enter into force - Montesquieu Instituut

On 1 July 2012 the new Roaming Regulation will enter into force bringing significant reductions to the cost of using mobile phones whilst travelling in another EU country. For the first time price caps will be introduced for downloading data from the internet using a mobile connection. Prices for voice and text calls will also be reduced.

The new prices caps will be:

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  29 cents per minute to make a call, plus VAT, down from 35 cents
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  8 cents per minute to receive a call, plus VAT, down from 11 cents
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  9 cents to send a text message, plus VAT, down from 11 cents
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  70 cents per Megabyte (MB) to download data (charged per Kilobyte used), plus VAT. There is no current price cap on this.

By 2014, as prices are cut further, the maximum cost of downloading data will be just 20 cents per MB, plus VAT. Operators are free to offer cheaper rates. Price caps are a maximum level, acting as a safeguard, and competition should drive them lower. The regulation also introduces new rules as from July 2014, allowing customers to shop around and sign up for a separate mobile roaming contract that best suits them. 0r, if they prefer, they can pick one when they arrive at their destination, like selecting a WiFi provider. In addition, as from 1 July 2012, the current warning customers receive if they are running up a high data bill will be extended to countries beyond the EU.

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The EU first introduced caps on roaming prices in 2007 (IP/07/870), ensuring that mobile phone subscribers pay similar roaming tariffs across the EU. In July 2009, revised rules were adopted that cut roaming prices further in instalments so that by July 2011 the maximum roaming charges was 35 cents per minute for calls made and 11 cents for calls received while abroad (see IP/09/1064 and MEMO/09/309). The 2009 roaming rules are applicable until the end of June 2012.

The new Roaming Regulation will enter into force.

IP/12/709 Digital Agenda: Wave goodbye to mobile internet rip-offs from 1 July; voice and SMS prices to fall also

European Commission's roaming website:

http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/activities/roaming/index_en.htm

Neelie Kroes' website:

http://ec.europa.eu/commission_2010-2014/kroes/index_en.htm

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  I-070376 Roaming

Ryan Heath: +32 2 296 17 16 ryan.heath@ec.europa.eu

Linda Cain: +32 2 299 90 19 linda.cain@ec.europa.eu