EU to cut cost of data roaming

By Bruno Waterfield, Brussels

 

 

 

 

The EU has acted every year since 2007 to cut the "roaming rip off" by setting maximum caps on the high prices levied by network providers when mobile phone users travel away from their home country within the EU.

 

For the first time, following talks with the European Parliament, the cost of mobile data roaming, using the internet, will fall to 59p for a one megabyte download in July. The cost will drop even further to 34p by July 2014.

 

The agreement will also allow mobile, smartphone or tablet users to sign on for a separate roaming contract as of July 1 2014, if another network offers a better deal.

 

Under the new tariffs applicable from July this year, consumers travelling in another EU country than their own will pay no more than 24p to make a phone call, 7p to receive one and 8p to send a text message.

 

By 2014 the maximum pricing caps set by the EU will be reduced by almost another third.

 

"Consumers are fed up with being ripped off by high roaming charges," said Neelie Kroes, the EU's commissioner for digital services.

 

"The new roaming deal gives us a long-term structural solution, with lower prices, more choice and a new smart approach for data and internet browsing. The benefits will be felt in time for the summer break – and by summer 2014, people can shop around for the best deal." Telegraph