From 1 July 2014, the EU will cut the price caps for data downloads by more than half: down from 45 cents per megabyte to 20c/MB. It will become even cheaper to use maps, watch videos, check mails and update social networks while travelling across the EU.
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To put it into context: football fans travelling in the EU during this World Cup season will pay 25 times less for data roaming as compared to during the 2010 World Cup..
Since the EU introduced caps on data roaming, data consumption has risen dramatically.
Phone calls and text messages will become cheaper as well. All this is good news, as you can travel around Europe and stay in touch with family and friends at home.
|
Type of mobile activity in the EU |
2013 caps (before VAT) |
2014 caps (before VAT) |
Decrease |
|
Making a call |
24 cents per min |
19 cents per min |
21% |
|
Receiving a call |
7 cents per min |
5 cents per min |
28.5 % |
|
Sending a text message |
8 cents |
6 cents |
25 % |
|
Downloading data / browsing |
45 cents per MB |
20 cents per MB |
55.5 % |
What’s more, from 1 July 2014 mobile providers in Europe can offer you a specific roaming deal before you travel and, where available, allow you to choose a local mobile provider for data services such as emailing, reading the news online, uploading photos and watching videos online, in the country you are visiting. So you can compare roaming offers, and benefit from more attractive offers and prices while you’re away..
But that’s not the end of the story: the EU is working on new rules to eliminate roaming charges altogether. The Commission’s Connected Continent regulation would see the end of roaming charges, as well as a guaranteed open and neutral internet, and better consumer protection for mobile and broadband users.
Background
Roaming charges were at their peak years ago when EU started to take action in 2007. The results are a 80-90% drop across roaming services in 2014 compared to 2007.
