The European Regulators Group (ERG) has just released its report on international roaming on the public mobile telephone networks, with respect to the period between 1 April and 30 September 2008 (the period to which the third specification model applies, as defined by the ERG for the compilation of data in this respect). The report also includes, for purposes of comparison, data on the previous specification models defined by the ERG - the first model reported on the period between 1 April and 30 September 2007 and the second refers to the period between 1 October 2007 and 31 March 2008.
The reports that has now been released, entitled ''International Roaming - ERG Benchmark Data Report - April 2008 - September 2008'', therefore covers the first full year governed by the European Regulation on this issue (Regulation EC no 717/2007 of 27 June).
According to this third set of data, the national measures taken on wholesale and retail prices in line with the ''rotariff'' oncept (retail tariffs subject to a price cap defined in Regulation EC no 717/2007 of 27 June) for voice communications made using roaming within the European Union/European Economic Area (EEA), are in compliance with regulation. However, in two thirds of the countries the average Eurotariff prices coincide with the maximum limit established for this type of tariff or are just slightly below it. At a wholesale level, a clear reduction in prices was found in comparison with the situation that existed before the Regulation entered into force. As far as text messages are concerned (SMS), no significant changes in prices were found, either in the retail or wholesale market. Meanwhile, with respect to the data service, significant differences in the average price per megabyte were found between Member States, particularly at retail level. However, in general terms, a sharp downward trend in average retail and wholesale tariffs was recorded in the countries of the ERG between the 2nd quarter of 2007 and the 3rd quarter of 2008.
The report also reveals that, with respect to intra-EU/EEA voice communications made using roaming, the amount of minutes billed significantly exceeded the amount of minutes actually routed (''al minutes'' at retail, for customers using the Eurotariff, a margin of 25 percent was found for calls made, and a margin of 19 percent for calls received, while at a wholesale level, the amount of roaming minutes billed exceeded the time effectively used by around 23%.
The aim of the available reports is to provide information which can be used as a basis for the European Commission's review of the Roaming Regulation, as well as for the decisions which are to be taken on the extension of its scope and the period of its application.
Consult:
International Roaming - ERG Benchmark Data Report for April 2008 - September 2008 (PDF 262 KB)
This information is copyrighted to ERG
