EU to scrap mobile phone roaming charges
17 Jun 2013
Exorbitant mobile phone roaming charges would be scrapped in Europe after EU commissioners called a halt yesterday to their levy.
The move comes with approval from all 27 commissioners, which would cost phone firms around 2 per cent of their profits
Call charges have been progressively cut since 2009. However, increasing internet use on smartphones has resulted in rising costs for customers.
The flat rate would open up the UK to competition from foreign mobile firms, and according to digital agenda commissioner Neelie Kroes, people needed this reform.
According to one Brussels source quoted by Daily Record and Sunday Mail, by this time next year, those charges would be got rid of.
According to consumer group, Which? executive director Richard Lloyd, scrapping EU mobile roaming charges would be a huge gain for travellers, especially those who had faced expensive charges for data roaming when their mobiles had not even left their suitcases.
The EC has voted to get rid of roaming charges across the EU from 1 July 2014.
Users are charged hefty roaming fees while travelling through Europe for voice calls, texts and internet access.
The vote by the EC would see these fees dropped as early as 1 July 2014, leading to users being charged the same rates while travelling abroad, as they would at home. The EU last year capped mobile roaming charges across mobile networks and according to commentators, a lot of holiday makers would have good reason to welcome the new decision.
According to The Telegraph, the 'death of roaming charges' could wipe around 2 per cent off mobile operators' revenues adding however, that over the long term, customers would spend more time on their phones when abroad, especially on the internet, accessing e-mails etc.
The decision came as a bid to streamline the amount telecoms operators charged across Europe, boosting the single market concept.
The number of operators, currently around 100, stunted the pace of connections and a single telecoms market could boost mergers and competition between foreign operators for UK customers.
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