With an overwhelming majority of 646 votes in favour, 22 against and 9 abstentions, on 22 April the European Parliament (EP) gave approval to a set of amendments to the Regulation of the EP and Council amending Regulation (EC) no. 717/2007 on roaming on public mobile telephone networks within the Community and to Directive 2002/21/EC on a common regulatory framework for electronic communications networks and services.
The new rules on roaming make it mandatory, from 1 July 2009, for all mobile operators in the European Union (EU) / European Economic Area (EEA)1 to provide their roaming customers with an SMS Eurotariff, which means a rate not exceeding 0.11 euros (excluding VAT) for sending intra- EU/EEA text message (SMS) in roaming. This value is significantly lower than the average prices which have been charged by European operators (for the national mobile operators in the period April to June 2008 this average price was 0.37 euros, excluding VAT).
The maximum value of the Eurotariff which customers of the EU/EEA pay for mobile voice communications in roaming in the intra-EU/EEA region (tariff introduced by Regulation (EC) no 717/2007) also lowers the current values of 0.46 euros per minute (for calls made) and 0.22 euros per minute (for calls received) to 0.43 euros and 0.19 euros respectively as of 1 July 2009, with changes also made to the rules on billing customers with respect to this Eurotariff. In 2010, as of 01 July, the maximum values of the Eurotariff applicable to intra–EU/EEA voice communications in roaming will be reduced to 0.39 euros per minute (for calls made) and 0.15 euros per minute (for calls received). From 01 July 2011, these values will fall further, to 0.35 euros and 0.11 euros, respectively. The obligation to provide an SMS Eurotariff and a Eurotariff for voice communications does not, however, prevent operators from offering other alternative tariffs for the same type of intra-EU/EEA communications in roaming .
A reduction is also made, from 1 July 2009, to the limits established in Regulation (EC) no. 717/2007 for the average annual wholesale prices of intra-EU/EEA voice communications in roaming , with intra-EU/EEA SMS and data communications services in roaming now subject to price caps at wholesale level.
Additionally, from 1 July 2010, operators may not apply charges to their customers who are in roaming, intra EU/EEA, for receiving voice mail messages, which does not preclude the application of other tariffs, including those related to listening to these messages.
As already noted in the context of voice communications, the rules which are established for SMS and data services are designed to make each roaming customer more aware of the charges for intra-EU/EEA roaming. From 1 March 2010, mobile operators will also have to make certain specific solutions available, with respect to intra EU / EEA data communications services in roaming, which reduce the risk of their customers being confronted with unexpectedly high bills.
It is expected that the amended Regulation will be formally approved by the Council on 12 June, entering directly into force in the 27 Member States on 1 July 2009, as referenced above.
1 In the member countries of the European Union, and also in Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein.
Consult:
- Amendment of Regulation (EC) No. 717/2007 (mobile telephone networks) and Directive 2002/21/EC (electronic communications) http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sce/data/amend_motions_texts/doc/P6_AMA(2009)0138(001-001)_EN.doc
Further information:
- Lower charges for mobile roaming from 1 July http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/expert/infopress_page/052-54063-111-04-17-909-20090421IPR54062-21-04-2009-2009-false/default_en.htm
- Cost of roaming texts, calls and data services to plummet from 1 July http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/09/620&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
Related information on ANACOM's website:
- Roaming https://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?categoryId=188342
