Members of the European Parliament have voted to abolish all roaming charges by 2017, a decision that is largely deemed a victory for consumers often slapped with exorbitant roaming charges when they travel across borders in the European Union.
In the U.K. alone, users who have travelled in the EU incurred an additional charge of £61 on average, or approximately $93, on top of their regular call, text and data plans in 2014. In the last year alone, all roaming charges amounted up to a total of £573 million, or around $877 million, according to uSwitch. Some 17 percent of users were charged £100, approximately $153, or more.
"Bill shock from holidaying in the EU affects more than 9 million U.K. mobile users a year according to our research," says Ernest Doku, senior commercial manager at uSwitch.
The vote effectively passes into law a bill that requires all carriers in all 28 member countries of the EU to abolish the high fees for making calls, sending texts and going online via mobile data while traveling to other countries. When the decision takes full effect in 2017, citizens of EU countries will only be required to pay the same costs abroad as they would had they remained in their home country.
The move to cut down prices will start in April 2016, where the cost of outgoing calls will be reduced from 19 cents per minute to five cents, while text messages will be reduced from 6 cents per SMS to two cents. Data prices will go down from 20 cents per MB to five cents per MB starting next year. All these costs will still be paid on top of customers' normal plan fees, but will be permanently abolished by June 2017, giving carriers enough time to incorporate reforms into the way they do roaming.
"The end of rip-off roaming fees is a massive win for British consumers," says MEP Catherine Bearder. "Driving down costs and making it easier to travel is what being in the EU is all about."
However, not everyone is happy about the new decision. MEP Roger Helmer says the lack of roaming charges will not stop wireless carriers from looking for other lucrative income streams. Helmer says it can possibly force carriers to pass on the costs of roaming to regular consumers.
"Lower prices for jetsetters will mean higher domestic prices," he argues. "The EU plan is good for MEPs, bad for voters."
Photo: Francisco Antunes | Flickr
