European Parliament approves lower wholesale roaming prices

Nieuws Mobiel Europa 6 APR 2017
European Parliament approves lower wholesale roaming prices

The European Parliament has cleared what it says is the final hurdle to the end of roaming surcharges in the EU. In a vote of 549 for, 27 against and 50 abstentions, the parliament approved the reduction in wholesale roaming price caps, agreed with the Council two months ago. 

Lower wholesale caps are needed to make the end of retail surcharges for roaming sustainable for mobile operators. Under the new rules, which take effect from 15 June, mobile users will pay the same price for services when roaming in the EU as they do at home. 

The new wholesale roaming rates from 15 June will be 3.2 eurocents per minute, 1 cent per SMS and EUR 7.70 per GB. Data prices will fall gradually, to EUR 6 per GB from the start of 2018, EUR 4.5 from 2019, EUR 3.5 from 2020, EUR 3 from 2021 and EUR 2.5 from 2022. 

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