Relevant community information

The European Commissioner for Information Society and Media, Viviane Reding has, since the beginning of her mandate in 2004, kept the spotlight on the issue of roaming and associated services.

In this context, the European Commission considered that the tariffs for these services were excessive and that they could therefore constitute an obstacle to the free movement of people and goods within the European Union (EU).

In view of the relevance of this issue, a website was launched in October 2005, International Roaming Tariffs. One of the website's aims was to put pressure on operators to lower prices by publicising the tariffs practised.

However, with the effects of this action falling short of desired results, in July 2006, the Commission put forward a draft regulation with the aim of significantly reducing the prices of services provided with roaming. Following this draft, Regulation (EC) no. 717/2007, of 27 Junehttp://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?contentId=520192 on roaming on public mobile telephone networks within the Community and amending Directive 2002/21/EC was published in the Official Journal of the European Union.

This community Regulation has allowed consumers to benefit, since summer 2007, from a ''Eurotariff'' which imposes a price cap on roaming voice calls of 0.49 euros (excluding VAT) and 0.24 euros (excluding VAT) respectively for calls made and received within the EU.

Note should also be made of the guidelines on roaming issued by the European Regulators Group (ERG), which, while not constituting a legal interpretation of the Regulation on roaming, are a complement to it.

The version of the document International Roaming Regulation: ERG Guidelines (Final Release) published in January 2008 (and updated in June 2008) has its origin in the guidelines previously issued by this regulators group in the preceding year, in July ( ERG Guidelines - 1st release and ERG Guidelines - 1st release) and in August (ERG Guidelines - 2nd release).

Consult:

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) http://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?categoryId=19307

See also:

International Roaming Tariffs http://www.anacom.pt/disclaimer_links.jsp?contentId=349225&fileId=531457&channel=graphic&backContentId=349225

Further information:

ERG Guidelines - Final Release - International Roaming Regulation http://www.anacom.pt/disclaimer_links.jsp?contentId=349225&fileId=601238&channel=graphic&backContentId=349225

ERG Guidelines - 1st release - Offers to customers concerning roaming tariff options http://www.anacom.pt/disclaimer_links.jsp?contentId=349225&fileId=623660&channel=graphic&backContentId=349225

ERG Guidelines - 1st release - Identifications of consumers on 'special' tariffs for the purposes of the Euro Tariff 'opt-in' regime http://www.anacom.pt/disclaimer_links.jsp?contentId=349225&fileId=623659&channel=graphic&backContentId=349225

ERG Guidelines - 2nd release http://www.anacom.pt/disclaimer_links.jsp?contentId=349225&fileId=623658&channel=graphic&backContentId=349225