International roaming services’ charges are expected to be reduced as from July 2007. This is the message of the EU Commissioner for Information Society and Media Viviane Reding, further to the approval on 12 April 2007 of the European Commission’s proposal on the regulation of international roaming tariffs by the European Parliament’s Industry and Energy Committee (ITRE).
According to the European Commissioner, this was the first step towards overcoming the barriers to the European Union’s (EU) internal market. Specifically, it is established that, within the EU, roaming charges will be limited to €0,40 per minute, should a mobile call be made from abroad, and €0,15 per minute, should a mobile call be received from abroad. Additionally, ITRE understands that this reduction of charges should be automatically applied to all customers, unless they decide to choose a possibly cheaper tariff package provided by the mobile operator. Lastly, ITRE agreed with the Commission’s proposal to reduce the maximum wholesale price limits in this area, which may help small operators to compete in the Community roaming market.
The proposal approved by ITRE will be voted at the European Parliament’s plenary session, in May 2007, and will have to be later approved at the EU Telecommunications Council of Ministers, on 7 June 2007, in Luxembourg.
Further information:
- Roaming Vote in the European Parliament: "The bell is now tolling for international roaming charges in Europe http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/newsroom/cf/itemdetail.cfm?item_id=3352
- Mobile roaming: EP committee votes for € 0.40 cap on calls made while abroad http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/expert/infopress_page/058-5108-101-04-15-909-20070410IPR05075-11-04-2007-2007-false/default_pt.htm
- The draft report of Rapporteur Paul Rübrig of the ITRE Committee http://www.europarl.europa.eu/meetdocs/2004_2009/documents/pr/649/649863/649863pt.pdf
- Comissão Europeia - International Roaming Tariffs http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/activities/roaming/index_en.htm
Related information on ANACOM's website:
- Roaming https://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?categoryId=188342
- EU - European Union https://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?categoryId=66653
