EC slashes mobile roaming charges

Britons travelling abroad this summer will be able to text, call, and browse the internet at cheaper rates.

The European Commission (EC) has voted to slash charges across Europe, meaning that from 1 July sending text messages home from Europe will cost no more that 9p (€0.11) as opposed to the 46p (€0.49) mobile phone operators previously charged.

The new rules also mean mobile phone operators must provide clearer information on the cost of using the internet on a mobile phone when abroad.

In future, mobile phone users will receive a reminder when they have spent £44 (€50) using these services abroad unless the consumer opts for a higher limit. The EC said network providers will have until March 2010 to put these transparency measures in place.

From 1 July the cost for mobile web access will also be capped at 93p (€1) per megabyte compared to the current £1.49 (€1.68) charge. This will then fall to 71p (€0.80) in 2010 and to 41p (€0.50) in 2011.

The plan, first discussed six months ago, is designed to eradicate 'bill shocks' for customers. Recently a German consumer who down­loaded a TV programme while using his phone in France was faced with a bill for £41,000.

The rules, which will apply until summer 2012, will also see the cost of roaming phone calls fall to 38p (€43) per minute compared to the current 41p (€0.46) for an outgoing voice call. The cap on costs for voice calls received abroad will fall from 20p (€0.22) to 17p (€19) in July and 9p (€0.11) by July 2011.

Vivienne Reding, EC commissioner, said: "The development of the roaming market will be kept under close EU scrutiny over the next three years.

"I very much hope that the mobile industry will understand this message. The ball is now in their court if they want to show that there can be healthy competition in the roaming market. The best proof of this would be if attractive voice and data roaming packages appear on the market very soon."