EU finalizes deal on mobile-roaming prices

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European organizations have made a deal to protect consumers from sky rocketing mobile roaming rates. The latter imposed new limits for consumer prices for the aforementioned services that includes a price cap for data roaming.

The European Commission said last Wednesday that this will allow users to switch operators for overseas calls and will eventually lead to lower prices.

According to European Commission vice president for the Digital Agenda Neelie Kroes, “The new roaming deal gives us a long-term structural solution, with lower prices, more choice and a new smart approach for data and Internet browsing. The benefits will be felt in time for the summer break – and by summer 2014, people can shop around for the best deal.”

In the said agreement, subscribers who use their phone in another EU country, the cost of a 1 minute call will not exceed 29 European cents as of July 1, and 19 cents as of July 2014. It is down from 35 cents under the current regulation.

Angelika Niebler who handled the legislation in European Parliament said, “The proposed price caps ensure a sufficient margin between wholesale and retail prices to assure a level of competition that will enable new player to enter the market.”

Image source: irishtimes.com