Mobile phone users across Donegal are up in arms after the EU Commission did a U-turn on plans to end roaming charges.
The commission has now decided to allow telephone network operators to charge and limit call or data volumes if customers roam for over 90 days per year.
It had planned to lift all roaming charges in June, 2017 meaning an end to expensive roaming charges for mobile users living along Donegal’s borders.
Speaking in reaction to the Commission’s decision, Independent MEP Marian Harkin said the U-turn is simply not on.
“This goes directly against the agreement which was made last year between the European Parliament and the Member States which was to abolish roaming charges across the EU by 15th June 2017.
“Network operators may now have the ability to continue to charge customers who roam for more than 90 days per year unless the Commission changes their decision. To me, these rules significantly alter the agreement that was reached and provides operators with the possibility to continue to rip off consumers.
“This is especially worrying for people living along the border region where roaming charges can occur on a daily basis and who may be caught roaming for more than 90 days per year. This regulation was meant to help these very people and now it may result in the continuation of unfair costs to them”.
According to Harkin, “the Commission’s interpretation of the “fair use” policy is very ironic. On the one hand, they want to abolish roaming charges for consumers who frequently travel to another member state and on the other hand, they are saying that they will allow customers to be charged for roaming if they are in another member state for too long.
“The aim of the proposal was to reduce costs on consumers who travel frequently and create a better functioning internal market. Unfortunately, this “fair use” policy will not do either. Thankfully, the Commission are accepting feedback from the public on these draft rules until October 3rd. Therefore, I would urge members of the public who are concerned about this to urgently send feedback on this issue to the Commission via the Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology”, Marian Harkin concluded.
Since 2006 the Commission has taken action to address the high roaming charges paid by consumers for using their mobile phones when travelling abroad in another EU Member State.
Regulatory measures adopted by co-legislators in 2007, 2009 and 2012 introduced binding maximum retail and wholesale roaming charges.
In 2015, the European Parliament and the Council adopted a Roaming Regulation, which entered into force on 29 November 2015. This regulation introduced the abolition of retail roaming charges in the Union from 15 June 2017, subject to fair usage of roaming services.
