Data roaming charges slashed in EU countries
New cost per MB falls below 20p as EU ramps up pressure on networks to end roaming for good
Roaming in EU countries is now cheaper than ever before as new caps come into effect, halving the cost of mobile data.
The EU is on a mission to abolish roaming charges altogether by the end of next year, with these latest measures hauling down the extortionate fees charged by operators.
From today calling a UK landline or mobile from any EU country will cost a maximum of 18p per minute and receiving a call will cost 4.8p. Sending a text will cost 5p and data will be charged at 19.6p per MB.
The latest caps represent a major step in the abolition of roaming costs. Previously calls cost 24p per minute, texts were 7p and data was a whopping 46p per MB.
UK mobile operators have slowly been wising up to the roaming rip-off in EU countries. Three’s Feel at Home deal, which lets you use your UK plan in a host of other countries, has just been extended to Finland, France, Israel, Norway, Switzerland and Norway. The deal is now available in 16 countries worldwide, including the USA and Australia.
O2 charges £1.99 per day for unlimited data in EU countries while Vodafone’s EuroTraveller lets pay monthly customers use their UK minutes, texts and data in most European countries for £2 per day.
Roaming fees in the EU are likely to be abolished altogether next year. The European Parliament has voted to ban roaming charges from 15 December 2015, meaning people will soon be able to take roam without worrying about huge bills.
The changes still need the approval of Europe’s Council of Ministers, but it is widely expected to come into law at the end of 2015.