The EU is set to drop mobile roaming charges – a development in the digital world we’re embracing with open arms.
The blissful content of a well-earned, relaxing holiday can only be tainted by the sting delivered with the enormous phone bill received upon your reluctant return. This sinking moment only amplifies the dreaded post-holiday blues. However, we’re expecting surprise roaming costs that have burnt us all to be a thing of the past. This is because the EU is set to drop roaming charges, allowing us to use our mobile phones (including data) anywhere in the EU, and be charged as we would be at home. Officials in Brussels have confirmed they’re well on the way to putting an end to roaming charges, a plan that has been in the pipeline for over 2 years. This new legislation is a treat to be enjoyed as of 15th June, 2017.
Even better to this, if customers exceed their contract restrictions while roaming, political agreement on wholesale caps – which determine how much Telecoms operators are able to charge one another for using their networks, mean the additional charges won’t exceed the agreed wholesale roaming caps.
Miapetra Kumpula-Natri comments on the EU roaming charges
EU lawmaker, Miapetra Kumpula-Natri, responsible for negotiating the legislation through Parliament has stated:
“People all over the EU have waited for us to drop roaming charges in June 2017. Now all the negotiations are ready and we can deliver what was promised. Like consumer organizations all over Europe, we, too, see this as a great victory for the European consumers.”
Source: http://www.europarl.europa.eu
Below is a breakdown of the maximum tariffs (ex. VAT) that will be charged for calls, texts and data whilst enjoying a wander around the EU, as taken from the European Commission website.
UK mobile customers are expected to relish the end of roaming charges up until the point at which the country is due to exit the EU in spring 2019.
Download the Vodafone guide to the new EU roaming charges, here.
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