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Mobile broadband roaming charges drop in EU

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Posted 1st July 2009 at 6:00pm by Ewan Taylor-Gibson

Customer service and Satisfaction

New laws have been brought into effect today (July 1st) that should help to prevent travellers using their laptop's mobile broadband connection while abroad from suffering extortionate charges.

Under legislation introduced by the EU, a single tariff has been introduced for roaming broadband use across the 27 member states.

Travellers will now be able to cross national borders within the EU and use their laptops knowing that the wholesale price for mobile broadband will come to no more than €1 (85p) per MB.

That is the price that ISPs in different countries charge one another.

By reducing this figure from a previous average of €1.68 per MB and standardising it across all EU countries, it is expected that ISPs will pass on the savings they make to their customers, resulting in lower charges for mobile internet use.

"The roaming rip-off is now coming to an end thanks to the determined action of the European Commission, the European Parliament and all 27 EU member states," said EU Telecoms Commissioner Viviane Reding.

"The Commission and national regulators will monitor data roaming charges very carefully and assess next year whether the roaming market is finally becoming competitive."

ISP 3 is one of the first to have announced its new roaming prices - from today, it will charge laptop users £1.25 per MB of data downloaded.

More news on: Customer service and satisfaction, Mobile broadband, Broadband laptops, Future developments

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2 comments

  • Geoff Edwards, 9th July 2009.

    I still don't understand these charges. What is roaming? On the one hand BT Mobile Broadband is offering a USB dongle and the impression one gets from their advertising is that it's going to cost the user £10 a month to download 1GB of data. But in smaller type is "roaming £7.50 per MB. does this mean a charge of £85.00 a month if the user uses 1GB?

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  • Alan Scales, 26th July 2009.

    Sorry, whilst this is a modest improvement on the previous situation with rates reduced and more consistent pricing across all member states, it's still extortionate and extremely limiting.

    Do the maths: a typical 3GB (3072MB) allowance in the UK is now around £15/month for domestic use. If you were to travel abroad and use the equivalent in any other of the member states it would cost you a whopping £2,611.2 (3072 * 0.85 = £2,611.2). Where's the legislation to stop that bill landing on my doorstep?

    Obviously for most people this will not be the reality, and they may use only a fraction of their typical UK allowance whilst abroad. However, with the exception of purchasing a 'bolt-on' before you go, even a modest 100MB will cost them a whopping £85!

    Further, the internet is constantly evolving and as such data usage is on the increase meaning that these prices will be even more unrealistic over time.

    In short, the borders are still very much there when it comes to mobile internet across the EU; whose legislators seem far more interested in ensuring we all use the same phone charger! Never mind, whilst you're out of pocket at least you're saving the environment! Sorry to be a cynic but this really is both laughable and contemptible!!

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