Roaming Charges fall within the EU

HarryT · 04-30-2016, 08:57 AM

Good news for anyone using mobile devices in the EU: roaming charges fall dramatically as from today, and will be completely abolished in June 2017. Data roaming is particularly impacted; before today, mobile operators were allowed to charge up to €0.20 per MB, the maximum as of today is the caller's domestic download rate (free for most people), plus a maximum of €0.05/MB.

More details at:

https://ec.europa.eu/digital-single-...oaming-tariffs

Something the EU has definitely got right - not so long ago, data roaming charges of well over £1/MB were commonplace.

johnnyb · 04-30-2016, 09:53 AM

So, does that apply to the UK as well?

HarryT · 04-30-2016, 10:03 AM

Of course! The UK is (for the moment, at least) a part of the EU.

Salgueiros · 04-30-2016, 11:03 AM

An example of the many good things the EU does.

And this coming from a european living in Canada, a weird place where doing anything between provinces is waaay more difficult and complicated than between countries in the EU. People should think about it when thinking about the European Union. Believe me, having the EU is a blessing compared to having something like we have here.

johnnyb · 04-30-2016, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Of course! The UK is (for the moment, at least) a part of the EU.

True, just something that makes you wonder sometimes...
How do the rates transfer to £/p? Has that been fixed or is that on a daily exchange rate basis?

HarryT · 04-30-2016, 11:58 AM

I'm afraid I don't know the answer to that.

tompe · 05-01-2016, 06:21 PM

I wonder what the maximal minimal amount they can charge is. With the previous reduction I still had to pay 5 euro per day or so but I got more data for it. But that was data I did not need so it was still expensive.

Sent from my ONE A2003 using Tapatalk

NickyWithNook · 05-04-2016, 10:05 AM

That's great! I'm from Michigan, and I went to Canada this last weekend - not a far distance from the US - and the roaming charges were crazy. I don't know why it didn't occur to me that I'd have roaming charges. I do know it's a different country, but it doesn't really feel like it.

So basically I wish we'd have some North America version of that.

Froide · 05-05-2016, 12:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NickyWithNook

That's great! I'm from Michigan, and I went to Canada this last weekend - not a far distance from the US - and the roaming charges were crazy. I don't know why it didn't occur to me that I'd have roaming charges. I do know it's a different country, but it doesn't really feel like it.

So basically I wish we'd have some North America version of that.

Yes! We need lowered (even better, zero) roaming charges within the NAFTA free trade zone. (Of course, American mobile service providers would fight such a proposal tooth and nail.)

HarryT · 05-05-2016, 02:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NickyWithNook

That's great! I'm from Michigan, and I went to Canada this last weekend - not a far distance from the US - and the roaming charges were crazy. I don't know why it didn't occur to me that I'd have roaming charges. I do know it's a different country, but it doesn't really feel like it.

So basically I wish we'd have some North America version of that.

How much would you pay to download 1MB of data, so we can get a useful comparison here?

NickyWithNook · 05-05-2016, 07:53 AM

$0.002 per KB

But there are packages where you can pay $30 for up to 120 MB, $60 for up to 300 MB, or $120 for up to 800 MB.

HarryT · 05-05-2016, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NickyWithNook

$0.002 per KB

But there are packages where you can pay $30 for up to 120 MB, $60 for up to 300 MB, or $120 for up to 800 MB.

So, $2/MB. That is expensive, I agree! Those are the sort of rates we were paying in EU countries prior to the forced reduction of roaming charges.

theducks · 05-05-2016, 10:44 AM

Harry
The major US providers (Cellular and Wireline) only WANT to sell you ($$) 'Bundles'. What they want to SELL, not what you NEED or WANT.
(I am not a 'always on the phone' user. I never used up my basic minutes in 10 years)
I was paying $50/mo for 2 LOCAL area (mine and spouse) lines with limited minutes and Peak restrictions (flip phone)

I now pay $200/Year for those 2 lines, no peak limits, all USA+ from <omitted as to not violate MR anti-SPAM rules>

My Wireline cost $30/mo. No extras (CID, VM, CW), No Long Distance, Local Only (and it was smaller area than that Cell)
My DSL (not from the phone company) was another $40/mo

I replaced those BOTH with a local provider. Faster DSL, CID, Nationwide + calling all for $50 (taxes and junk fees included)

To make thing totally ironic: I have Stock in both of those old providers and retired from a major telecommunications equipment manufacturer

BetterRed · 05-08-2016, 02:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Something the EU has definitely got right - not so long ago, data roaming charges of well over £1/MB were commonplace.

Don't you mean "Something the EU finally got right".

There's a couple of phone companies that operate in Southern and Eastern Africa that have had free roaming for quite a few years across countries like Nigeria, SA, Zambia, Ghana, Namibia etc. One of the companies (Indian) tried to do the same in Europe - the EU prevented it.

BR

MickiTee · 05-10-2016, 03:54 PM

Just had an email from my mobile provide, Virgin Mobile, saying

Quote:

From 1st July 2016, costs for going out of your allowance are changing. Costs for additional data, calls to UK landlines, mobiles, and the access charge for calls to service numbers are all increasing.

When I checked, the daily charge for unlimited Data usage is doubling from £1/day to £2/day. Charges for calls are alos increasing but by a much small percentage.

You have to wonder if this is a way of recouping revenue lost because of the reduction in roaming charges within the EU.

04-30-2016, 08:57 AM	#1
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Roaming Charges fall within the EU Good news for anyone using mobile devices in the EU: roaming charges fall dramatically as from today, and will be completely abolished in June 2017. Data roaming is particularly impacted; before today, mobile operators were allowed to charge up to €0.20 per MB, the maximum as of today is the caller's domestic download rate (free for most people), plus a maximum of €0.05/MB. More details at: https://ec.europa.eu/digital-single-...oaming-tariffs Something the EU has definitely got right - not so long ago, data roaming charges of well over £1/MB were commonplace.

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04-30-2016, 09:53 AM	#2
johnnyb Cloud Reader Posts: 1,117 Karma: 4000066 Join Date: Aug 2010 Device: Kindle Oasis, Kindle Scribe, iPad Pro 11	So, does that apply to the UK as well?

04-30-2016, 10:03 AM	#3
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Of course! The UK is (for the moment, at least) a part of the EU.

04-30-2016, 11:03 AM	#4
Salgueiros Eudaimonia Posts: 898 Karma: 9164418 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Vancouver, Canada Device: Sony PRS T2, Sony PRS T3, Sony DPT-RP1	An example of the many good things the EU does. And this coming from a european living in Canada, a weird place where doing anything between provinces is waaay more difficult and complicated than between countries in the EU. People should think about it when thinking about the European Union. Believe me, having the EU is a blessing compared to having something like we have here.

04-30-2016, 11:58 AM	#6
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	I'm afraid I don't know the answer to that.

05-01-2016, 06:21 PM	#7
tompe Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,452 Karma: 7185064 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Linköpng, Sweden Device: Kindle Voyage, Nexus 5, Kindle PW	I wonder what the maximal minimal amount they can charge is. With the previous reduction I still had to pay 5 euro per day or so but I got more data for it. But that was data I did not need so it was still expensive. Sent from my ONE A2003 using Tapatalk

05-04-2016, 10:05 AM	#8
NickyWithNook Guru Posts: 750 Karma: 3942770 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: American living in Australia Device: Kobo Libra Colour, Kindle Fire, Kindle Pwhite (Don't use Nook anymore)	That's great! I'm from Michigan, and I went to Canada this last weekend - not a far distance from the US - and the roaming charges were crazy. I don't know why it didn't occur to me that I'd have roaming charges. I do know it's a different country, but it doesn't really feel like it. So basically I wish we'd have some North America version of that.

05-05-2016, 07:53 AM	#11
NickyWithNook Guru Posts: 750 Karma: 3942770 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: American living in Australia Device: Kobo Libra Colour, Kindle Fire, Kindle Pwhite (Don't use Nook anymore)	$0.002 per KB But there are packages where you can pay $30 for up to 120 MB, $60 for up to 300 MB, or $120 for up to 800 MB.

05-05-2016, 10:44 AM	#13
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 30,441 Karma: 58055868 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	Harry The major US providers (Cellular and Wireline) only WANT to sell you ($$) 'Bundles'. What they want to SELL, not what you NEED or WANT. (I am not a 'always on the phone' user. I never used up my basic minutes in 10 years) I was paying $50/mo for 2 LOCAL area (mine and spouse) lines with limited minutes and Peak restrictions (flip phone) I now pay $200/Year for those 2 lines, no peak limits, all USA+ from <omitted as to not violate MR anti-SPAM rules> My Wireline cost $30/mo. No extras (CID, VM, CW), No Long Distance, Local Only (and it was smaller area than that Cell) My DSL (not from the phone company) was another $40/mo I replaced those BOTH with a local provider. Faster DSL, CID, Nationwide + calling all for $50 (taxes and junk fees included) To make thing totally ironic: I have Stock in both of those old providers and retired from a major telecommunications equipment manufacturer

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