Reduction of prices of roaming data services and SMS18/12/08 / cata_european-union-news
On 23 September 2008, the European Commission published a proposal for a regulation introducing lower prices for roaming data services and SMS. The document also takes into account the reduction of voice services. The Commission seeks to improve transparency of Internet usage and downloading of data from mobile phones during travels abroad.
This measure results from a review of the functionality of the roaming services regulation; the Commission arrived at the conclusion that the prices of roaming SMS and data services do not correspond with the real costs of mobile operators.
The maximum price for sending an SMS in the EU is proposed at the amount of € 0.11 (excluding VAT) and the receipt of SMS must always be free of charge, whereby the prices should be reduced by up to 60% from the current price of € 0.29.
On the grounds of further reducing roaming voice services, the prices should drop to € 0.43 per minute of calling from 1 July 2009 and then € 0.40 €, 0.37 or € 0.34 in 2010 - 2012. The price for receipt of a call should fall from € 0.19 to € 0.10 starting from 2012.
Simultaneously, billing for roaming calls will be performed by seconds and not minute blocks, as it is commonly done now.
Moving the date of termination of the roaming regulation from 30 June 2010 to 30 June 2013 is also important. Thereafter, exclusively the market should again determine the prices.
The Council of EU Telecoms Ministers negotiated the Commission’s proposal in late November and expressed its full support for this proposal. In the event of approval of the amended regulation by the European Parliament, the first reading of which takes place in April 2009, the new regulation should become valid from 1 July 2009.