European MPs Cut Roaming Text and Internet Costs

EU MPs have capped the price of texting from mobiles while abroad. Photo by wikimedia.org

European MPs have voted overwhelmingly to cut the cost of texting and using the internet on mobiles abroad.

The cap for a "roaming" text will fall to 11 euro cents, from about 29 cents on average today, the BBC reported Wednesday.

The EU-wide caps, excluding VAT, will take effect in July. They cover text messages and data roaming services, such as checking e-mails while abroad.

The current price cap of 46 euro cents per minute for an outgoing voice call will also fall to 43 cents in July.

The legislation was passed by 646 votes in favour and 22 against. It has already been approved by EU telecoms ministers.

It is aimed at preventing "bill shock" - the nasty surprise many holidaymakers get when they return home and see how much they were charged for using their mobile phone abroad.

The cap on voice calls received abroad will fall from 22 cents today to 19 cents in July and 11 cents by July 2011.

In the first phase of the EU's mobile roaming legislation, the cost of voice calls was cut from 1 July 2007. The average cost of a roaming call before then was EUR 1.15 per minute.

At the time phone companies were warned that legislation on texting and downloading data would follow unless they lowered costs voluntarily.

 

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