Around one year after it was initially proposed, a new European regulation on roaming in the European Union (EU) is to come into force. The regulation, which was approved on 25 June 2007 by the EU ministerial Competitiveness Council (Internal Market, Industry and Research), will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 29 June, taking effect the following day. The regulation will allow European consumers to benefit from a “Eurotariff” as of 30 August. This tariff puts a cap of 0.49 euros per minute (excluding VAT) for calls made while abroad and 0.24 euros per minute for calls received.
“We hope we've now seen the last of excessive roaming charges. I note with satisfaction that some operators are offering the new Eurotariff already as of 1 July", said EU Telecom Commissioner Viviane Reding.
With the new regulation’s entry into force, mobile service operators are obliged to offer a “Eurotariff” to all their customers by 30 July 2007. Customers without an existing roaming package and who react immediately will benefit from a Eurotariff by 30 August 2007 latest. For those who do not react and who do not have an existing roaming package, the Eurotariff will apply automatically from 30 September 2007. Subscribers who already have a roaming package can also choose a Eurotariff and must inform their operator of this choice.
The prices per minute (excluding VAT) for calls made while abroad will fall further to 0.46 euros in summer 2008 and to 0.43 euros in summer 2009. Prices for received calls will also fall, to 0.22 euros in 2008 and to 0.19 euros in 2009. Roaming wholesale prices will also see annual reductions.
The new regulation will be valid for three years, over which time the Commission, together with national regulatory authorities (NRAs), will keep its application under close scrutiny. Within 18 months the Commission will make an evaluation of the regulation, in order to determine whether or not it should be extended and whether there is a need for the Commission to again intervene and include SMS and data transmission roaming.
Further information:
- EU Roaming Regulation enters into force across all 27 Member States on 30 June http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/07/870&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
- Site da CE sobre roaming (em inglês) http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/activities/roaming/index_en.htm
- International Mobile Roaming : how will the new ''Eurotariffs'' reduce the cost of using a mobile phone in the European Union? (em Inglês) http://www.europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/07/251&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
Related information on ANACOM's website:
- European Parliament adopts regulation on roaming tariffs https://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?contentId=486655
- Agreement to reduce EU roaming charges https://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?contentId=484812
- Roaming https://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?categoryId=188342
- EU - European Union https://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?categoryId=66653
