Published: Thu, 03 April 2014
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Sean Kelly MEP has welcomed today’s majority vote by the European Parliament to abolish mobile roaming charges in Europe by 2015.
“Europeans should be able to travel to another EU country and continue to use their mobile phone without incurring additional charges. In the digital era, it is especially important that consumers can have access to the internet and mobile technology for a reasonable price while travelling,” said Mr Kelly, a member of the Industry Committee responsible for the call to abolish roaming.
“The single market is about free movement of goods and the free movement of people. The ability to stay connected, to communicate with family, friends and for work purposes is essential to daily life – regardless of where you are in Europe. The fees once charged by mobile phone networks were completely extortionist and unjustified. Thankfully, they are much lower at present and will drop further in July.”
Thanks to new laws passed by MEPs and Sean Kelly, the already reduced roaming rates will be further lowered this summer.
“By July 2014, when travelling in another EU country, mobile phone users will pay no more than 19 cent per minute to make a voice call from their mobiles. Users will be charged 5 cent per minute to receive a call and no more than 6 cent per text message sent. The maximum data download charge will be 20 cent per megabyte.”
MEP Kelly advises consumers to seek out the best deal when choosing a network provider: “These are the maximum charges that can be applied, so competition amongst providers will come into play if consumers look around for the best deals possible.”
Since being elected to the European Parliament, the Ireland South MEP campaigned for reduced roaming rates and will continue his bid to completely abolishment of roaming fees.
“Today is another important step forward for consumers and we will continue to push for better value for mobile phone users at EU level,” Mr Kelly, MEP of the Year for the Digital Agenda, added.
Details:
Roaming rates (from July 1st 2013):
Consumers travelling in another EU country will pay no more than:
• 24 cent per minute to make a voice-call (Down from 29 cent p/min since 2012)
• 7 cent per minute to receive a voice-call (Down from 8 cent p/min since 2012)
• 8 cent per text message sent (Down from 9 cent p/text since 2012)
• 45 cent per megabyte downloaded (internet usage charged by the kilobyte used)
New roaming rates applicable from July 1st 2014
Under further decreases planned for July 2014, consumers travelling in another EU country will pay no more than:
• 19 cent per minute to make a voice-call
• 5 cent per minute to receive a voice-call
• 6 cent per text message sent
• 20 cent per megabyte downloaded (internet usage charged by the kilobyte used)
