Great news! The European Union’s Roaming Regulation has lowered the price caps for data downloads by 36%, making it much cheaper to use maps, watch videos, check emails and update social networks while travelling across the EU.
Data roaming will now be up to 91% cheaper in 2013 compared to 2007. During this period the volume of the data roaming market has grown 630%. These two trends mean both consumers and mobile operators have significant new opportunities thanks to EU efforts.
The EU has achieved retail price reductions across calls, SMS and data of over 80% since 2007. One great example of this is Croatia, which today joined the EU; Europeans make several million visits to Croatia and this year they will enjoy spectacular savings as the cost for data has decreased almost 15 times in comparison to before.
Commission Vice President Neelie Kroes said: “The EU has to be relevant to people’s lives. The latest price cuts put more money in your pocket for summer, and are a critical step towards getting rid of these premiums once and for all. This is good for both consumers and companies, because it takes fear out of the market, and it grows the market.”
The new price caps, which enter into force today, are:
- Downloading data or browsing the internet – 45 cents / Megabyte (MB) (charged per Kilobyte used) + VAT. (36% reduction compared to 2012)
- Making calls – 24 cents / minute + VAT (17% reduction compared to 2012)
- Receiving a call – 7 cents / minute + VAT (12.5% reduction compared to 2012)
- Sending a text message – 8 cents + VAT (11% reduction compared to 2012)
Operators are free to offer cheaper rates, and some have already begun to remove roaming premiums altogether for voice and SMS, or offering a roaming-free area region across one section of Europe or another.
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