The regulation on roaming that imposes a cap on the prices charged by EU telecommunications operators for international roaming charges has been adopted by the European Parliament today (23 May 2007).
The regulation establishes a eurotariff for roaming calls, under which the price (excluding VAT) of calls made on mobile phones from abroad is capped at €0.49 per minute and at €0.24 per minute for calls received. The regulation also sets out that the level of these price caps will be gradually reduced over a two year period.
Roaming service customers will be able to benefit from this eurotarrif, without any extra cost, and should be provided with clear and transparent information on the new tariffs by suitable means (bills, advertisements, direct mail, Internet, etc.).
In order to enhance transparency of pricing and consumer information, the regulation goes on to stipulate that operators must inform their customers, within one month of the regulation’s entry into force of their right to choose, within two months, between the eurotariff (values set out in the regulation) and another tariff for roaming services.
This regulation, which should receive formal approval by Council of Ministers for telecommunications, meeting on 7 June 2006, will enter into force on the day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
Within 18 months from its entry into force, the European Commission needs to complete an analysis of how far the regulation has achieved its objectives and if necessary, put forward recommendations for further regulation of the services it covers (voice and data communications, including SMS and MMS).
Further information:
- Text of regulation on roaming approved by European Parliament http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sce/data/amend_motions_texts/doc/P6_AMA%282007%290155%28048-048%29_EN.doc
- MEPs deliver on cheaper roaming: calling rates to drop by the summer holidays http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/expert/infopress_page/058-6990-141-05-21-909-20070522IPR06989-21-05-2007-2007-true/default_en.htm
- Comissão Europeia: Perguntas frequentes: ''The new EU Regulation to Reduce Roaming Charges ahead of the European Parliament plenary vote'' (em inglês) http://www.europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/07/158&type=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
- Mobile operators in Portugal http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/activities/roaming/consumer/operators/pt/index_en.htm
Related information on ANACOM's website:
- 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
