Time to abolish mobile phone roaming in the EU

MEP Chris Davies

A local MEP is throwing his weight behind a campaign to end the practice of charging people for calls they receive while abroad.

Information Commissioner Neelie Kroes is launching a new initiative to accelerate the process where the EU has been bringing down mbile phone charges for Brits abroad.

The Liberal Democrats in the EU want to see roaming charges abolished by 2015 and it is starting to look as if they will get their way.

Rochdale MEP Chris Davies said: “"This is good news for British business and British consumers.

"A few big companies have kept prices outrageously high by creating artificial barriers between countries. Now these will be swept aside, creating opportunities for business and benefits for consumers.

"This is the European Commission working at its best: opening up markets, tearing down barriers, and ensuring that we can take full advantage of a European market of 500 million people.”

The reductions in roaming and data charges will also help UK tourism, one of the biggest and fastest growing sectors in the North West.

From 2012 to 2014, EU laws will have forced the cost of mobile data down from around 65p per MB to less than 20p. The cost for receiving a phone call has dropped by more than half and the new laws would see that cost disappear altogether.

Davies added: “Charging someone to receive a call is crazy, how are people supposed to know if you are away or not?

"The existing telecommunications companies will be forced to stop ripping us off with charges for doing nothing and told instead to make money by growing the business."