EU cuts data roaming charges in half

The European Commission has announced mobile data roaming cuts of up to 50% across the European Union.

The EU will see new price caps for data downloads introduced next month, cutting costs by more than half. The caps mean mobile operators will not be able to charge more than 20 cents per megabyte when a consumer is visiting another EU country.

The changes, due to take effect from July 1, will also mean mobile providers in Europe can offer consumers a specific roaming deal before they travel and, where available, allow people to choose a local mobile provider for data services such as emailing, browsing online and uploading photos in the country they are visiting.

The move means making call will cost 21% less than 2013, receiving a call 28.5% less and downloading data drop by 55.5 %.

The EU said the next step is to eliminate roaming charges altogether with The Commission’s ‘Connected Continent’ regulation “guaranteeing open and neutral internet, and better consumer protection for mobile and broadband users.”

“This huge drop in data roaming prices will make a big difference to all of us this summer,” said Neelie Kroes, vice president of the European Commission. “But it is not enough.

“Why should we have roaming charges at all in a single market? By the end of this year I hope we see the complete end of roaming charges agreed – the Parliament has done their part, now it is up to Member States to seal the deal.”