MEP Pat the Cope Gallagher has welcomed the adoption of a proposal to end all mobile roaming charges by the end of 2015 in the European Parliament.
Mr Gallagher hailed the move as a major step forward for the EU towards reforming the single telecoms market.
Since 2007 successive pieces of EU legislation implemented have meant roaming costs for calls and texts have been reduced by 80%, while data roaming has been reduced by 90%.
Mr Gallagher said “the direct effects of this vote will mean that as of December 2015 consumers will pay the same prices for data, texts and voice calls as they would at home, regardless of where they are in the EU. This is great news for consumers and anyone who dreads being caught out by extortionate roaming charges when going abroad in the EU “.
Specifically on the impact for the border region, Mr Gallagher said it will be great for Donegal.
“This excellent initiative by the European Parliament will positively impact communities living along the border. Too often consumers living in the border region are charged excessively for sending or receiving a call or text on a network on the other side of the border.”
The proposal is part of a wider “Connected Continent Package” which aims to reform the telecoms single market by ending roaming surcharges, reducing red tape for companies, increasing rights for both consumers and service providers and the first ever EU-wide protection of net neutrality.
Mr Gallagher concluded that “mobile roaming charges will soon be a thing of the past and this is yet another example of how EU wide rules can positively benefit the consumer”.
Mr Gallagher “I am now calling on the Minister for Communications and the Taoiseach to firmly support the decision of the European Parliament to end roaming charges, in the context of trilogue negotiations and not to water down in anyway the key provisions.”
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