Commenting on the news that data roaming charges are set to be abolished within the European Union by June 2017, and the proposals around net neutrality, Ernest Doku**, mobiles expert at [Uswitch.com](/mobiles/), says:** “We’ve heard this before. Data roaming charges were due to be abolished in the EU at the end of 2015 and the U-turn confused and frustrated people.
“Mid 2017 is a long way off, particularly when a fifth of UK holidaymakers have returned home from an EU trip in the past year to find their bill was, on average, £61 higher than usual – amounting to £573 million collectively. Of these, around one in six had to pay upwards of £100 on top of their normal bill.
“Let’s hope there’ll be no more backtracking after Europe’s mobile networks have had their say.
“The ‘safeguards’ to address the recovery of costs by operators will have to be suitably robust to financially protect mobile customers and make sure bills don’t rise.
“The second announcement, on net neutrality, is a big step with positive implications for consumers. If providers cannot prioritise some services over others then, essentially, it’s a move away from a two tier internet model.
“But it’s early days and, like the debates over scrapping EU roaming charges, these good intentions could still unravel.”
For more information visit www.uswitch.com or call 0800 093 0607
Lucy Smart
Phone: 020 7148 4663
Email: lucy.smart@uswitch.com
Twitter: @UswitchPR
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