A further reduction of mobile phone roaming rates within the EU

From August 30 there will be further reductions in the rates charged for mobile phone calls across international borders within the European Union. Germany's Network Agency has announced that the net price for outbound calls from networks in foreign EU countries will fall by 3 euro cents – 2.37 pence – to 46 euro cents – 36.42 pence per minute – plus VAT – and by 2 euro cents – 1.58 pence – to 22 euro cents – 17.42 pence – VAT not included – per minute for inbound calls. Starting on August 30, the fee that mobile communications providers charge each other must not, on average, exceed 28 euro cents per minute.

European regulatory authorities clamped down on roaming rates within the EU last year and demanded that rates be incrementally reduced. A further reduction of up to 3 cents per minute is planned from August 30, 2009. Matthias Kurth, head of Germany's Network Agency said it was "good that mobile communications providers have implemented most of the consumer-friendly stipulations in the ordinance in time."

See also:

• Orange introduces flat-rate roaming across Europe, heise online UK news.
• EU Commissioner wants lower data roaming prices, heise online UK news.

(trk)