Mobile Roaming Plans Quashed

Proposed time limits on surcharge-free roaming for travellers using mobile phones have been scrapped under new European Commission plans.

18:00 22 September 2016

In 2015, the European Parliament has agreed to abolish roaming charges faced by EU travellers using a mobile phone in June 2017. The proposal has been scrapped under new European Commission plans and has been replaced with permission for operators to check the system is not being abused.

 

EU commissioner for the digital single market, Andrus Ansip, said: "We will not put any kind of limits on duration or, how many days [travellers] can enjoy no roaming surcharges, but we decided to put some clear safeguards on residency," 

 

Starting 15 June, 2017, users within EU will be charged the same as they would be in their home country.

 

"The draft was not technically wrong," Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said in his state of the union address. "But it missed the point of what was promised.

 

"When you roam, it should be like at home."

 

Under the revised plans, operators will be allowed to challenge customers if they detect the device is not being used for periodic travel usage.