The European Parliament has voted to end mobile phone roaming charges from 15th December 2015 as part of a package of proposals that also prohibits the blocking or slowing down of services except for reasons of security or network congestion (‘net neutrality’).
It means that customers travelling to other EU countries from the UK wouldn’t pay any additional cost for making calls, receiving calls, sending text messages or using mobile internet services when abroad.
EU Member States now need to review the regulation, with a final agreement expected by the end of this year.
Neelie Kroes, Vice President of the European Commission, said “This vote is the EU delivering for citizens. This is what the EU is all about - getting rid of barriers to make life easier and less expensive. Nearly all of us depend on mobile and internet connections as part of our daily lives. We should know what we are buying, we should not be ripped-off, and we should have the opportunity to change our mind. Companies should have the chance to serve all of us, and this regulation makes it easier for them to do that. It’s win-win. In 2010 I promised to end roaming charges by the end of 2015, and now we are one step away from achieving that result.”
[Neelie Kroes video clip]