Roaming tariffs within EU zone

[KinkyOne]

Hola!

I guess this thread will be mostly usefull for EU citizens but could benefit to others aswell:
http://ec.europa.eu/digital-agenda/en/roaming-tariffs

I've also heard that by 1st July 2015 there will be no more roaming charged in EU but couldn't find anything reliable about that on internet. Anybody knows more?

K1

 

[NicoZ]

Hola!

I guess this thread will be mostly usefull for EU citizens but could benefit to others aswell:
http://ec.europa.eu/digital-agenda/en/roaming-tariffs

I've also heard that by 1st July 2015 there will be no more roaming charged in EU but couldn't find anything reliable about that on internet. Anybody knows more?

K1

I thought all roaming was supposed to go away next year. But I can't remember exactly.

 

[KinkyOne]

I thought all roaming was supposed to go away next year. But I can't remember exactly.

Hi, NicoZ,

Do you mean next year as 2015 or 2016? I've heard for 2015...

 

[NicoZ]

Hi, NicoZ,

Do you mean next year as 2015 or 2016? I've heard for 2015...

2016. On the EU website they claim the aim is for 2016 . OTOH not everybody wants it to happen.

 

[KinkyOne]

2016. On the EU website they claim the aim is for 2016 . OTOH not everybody wants it to happen.

Thank you!
I guess I know who would be "not everybody" in this case but sure not me

 

[LesBrass]

Hello - YEAH YEAH YEAH... we europeans have been waiting a long time for this to finally happen... it was all agreed sometime ago but for some reason we have to wait until December 2015 for it to fully happen... but it's coming! http://www.theguardian.com/money/2014/mar/16/legislation-abolish-roaming-charges-european-parliament

 

[LesBrass]

2016. On the EU website they claim the aim is for 2016 . OTOH not everybody wants it to happen.

sorry... I should read all the posts before saying anything!

Do you not want it to happen? In France we're hoping that we'll get some better value deals on our mobile phones... friends and family in the UK pay half the rates we have to pay... but I guess it could make their charges more expensive? And it's a pain having to pay roaming charges when you live close to border areas

 

[KinkyOne]

sorry... I should read all the posts before saying anything!

Do you not want it to happen? In France we're hoping that we'll get some better value deals on our mobile phones... friends and family in the UK pay half the rates we have to pay... but I guess it could make their charges more expensive? And it's a pain having to pay roaming charges when you live close to border areas

As I understand from your link in previous post the roaming will be a history by December this year (although all major changes regarding the topic happened on 1st July in last years...). Nice to hear this although won't be nice to be exposed to national rising of the tariffs. Well, I hope that won't happen because even now operators & providers are competing aginst each other with lower prices, packages etc. almost everday. Those tariffs are subject to anti-monopolistic laws (sorry I can't remember the right expression right now, but I believe you understand what I mean) and I expect they will remain mostly the same.

K1

 

[Dutch]

Lets not get our european hopes up. For a while now, it looks like there might be a delay in the december 2015 plans to end roaming. Knowing politicians, there probably will be then.....

http://www.euractiv.com/sections/infosociety/eu-considers-delaying-end-mobile-roaming-charges-308663

 

[KinkyOne]

Lets not get our european hopes up. For a while now, it looks like there might be a delay in the december 2015 plans to end roaming. Knowing politicians, there probably will be then.....

http://www.euractiv.com/sections/infosociety/eu-considers-delaying-end-mobile-roaming-charges-308663

Huh, that's a downer...
While Vivianne Reading done such good work (on the topic) things are changing I guess. Thanks @Dutch for posting!

 

[LesBrass]

Lets not get our european hopes up. For a while now, it looks like there might be a delay in the december 2015 plans to end roaming. Knowing politicians, there probably will be then.....

http://www.euractiv.com/sections/infosociety/eu-considers-delaying-end-mobile-roaming-charges-308663

NOOOOOO... Dutch I'm gutted I was so sure it was all going to happen but but but...

I've just sent the link to my husband who's in the UK at the moment... he has to have 2 phones for each country (UK and France) because of the roaming charges... he'll not be too pleased I'm sure

 

[Dutch]

Im not pleased as well. Lucky for us the roaming charges have come down alot over the last few years. Now just that last hurdle.

I spend about 60-80 euro on a five week camino for roaming charges. I must add that i use whatsapp with or without wifi whenever i want/need to, check and write mails on a regular basis and do visit websites now and then, all without wifi....unless available of course.
Whatsapp just for texts isnt a big cost. It uses sooo little data, but i do send pics with it and that uses some more data. The same goes for instagram.
And pretty soon Ivar's app

I am sure i could be cheaper of with getting a spanish card, but i just cant be bothered with changing cards, phone numbers for 5 weeks ect... Now if i was from outside europe, then i would consider it if it was for a longer period, but in europe, nope.

 

[KinkyOne]

I am sure i could be cheaper of with getting a spanish card, but i just cant be bothered with changing cards, phone numbers for 5 weeks ect... Now if i was from outside europe, then i would consider it if it was for a longer period, but in europe, nope.

Exactly the problem as I see it. I too have Spanish SIM card and even two phones but it's such a nuissance to change them while so many everyday pilgrim "problems" emerging

 

[NicoZ]

sorry... I should read all the posts before saying anything!

Do you not want it to happen? In France we're hoping that we'll get some better value deals on our mobile phones... friends and family in the UK pay half the rates we have to pay... but I guess it could make their charges more expensive? And it's a pain having to pay roaming charges when you live close to border areas

If you mean on contract phones are cheaper that's because the contracts cover the phones. It's the classic penny wise story. If you mean off contract then just order a phone from the UK. Mine was bought from amazon.uk and delivered the same week. Some times a model is cheaper there. Some times it's more expensive.

Voice roaming is already fairly cheap. 30cents a minute.

If you look at the EU website they claim getting rid of roaming charges will lead to more investment in 4G etc. Only the EU would think taking money away from somebody would cause them to spend more.

 

[Dutch]

How can you not want this....

 

[NicoZ]

How can you not want this....

Because I expect my normal rates to go up or my service to go down. Ignoring me I'm one of the few people I know who will benefit from it. From the selfish point of view it will make my life easier. OTOH many people I know rarely travel abroad but will be seeing their overall costs go up.

 

[Dutch]

I dont see how thats gonna happen, when the trend is for rates to go down. I have never been able to call, text and use mobile internet as cheap as i do know and if i wanted, it could even be cheaper....IF i wanted to swap providers.

As for roamimg costs to go away, i cant wait. I'm abroad in europe often enough to enjoy it, alot.

 

[NicoZ]

I dont see how thats gonna happen, when the trend is for rates to go down. I have never been able to call, text and use mobile internet as cheap as i do know and if i wanted, it could even be cheaper....IF i wanted to swap providers.

As for roamimg costs to go away, i cant wait. I'm abroad in europe often enough to enjoy it, alot.

In Italy rates are already higher then a few years back.

But they don't have to increase the prices . They can cut back on network spending. Not much point saving on a crappy service.