EU may end mobile roaming charges

MOBILE phone users in Europe could avoid roaming fees by jumping directly to different networks when they cross a border.

The proposal comes from the European Commissioner for Digital Agenda, Neelie Kroes, circulated to the European Commission and obtained by the Herald and Tribune.

The idea is a more specific mechanism to achieve Kroes’ promise of scrapping roaming fees within the EU.

For example, under the system, someone travelling from France to the UK would no longer be constrained to stay on their French contract but would be allowed to buy temporary contracts and credits directly through UK operators.

Mobile phone companies are resistant to the idea because of the €7bn raised by roaming charges.

Kroes has set a timetable of Easter 2014 for the implementation of legislation to remove roaming charges, or reduce them to negligible amounts.

To push operators into accepting the idea, the proposal contains a clause that operators who take part will be exempt from a future law that would allow EU citizens to choose their contract from operators in any country.

Roaming costs have been capped at the following rates since 2012: making a call 29c per minute, receiving a call 8c per minute, sending an sms 9c, 70c per mb of data and receiving and sms is free.

In addition, roaming data fees are also capped at €50.

Photo: Tim Bishop