European roaming charges will end in 2014
Roaming fees for voice calls, texts and internet access will be a thing of the past across Europe from 2014, after European politicians voted to fast-track reforms of the European telecoms market.
The European Commission -- a group of 27 politicians who represent the best interests of Europe as a whole, rather than individual countries, voted in Brussels to push the reforms through before the next European elections, which will happen in May 2014. The resulting legislation will come into force on 1 July 2014.
Detailed proposals for the changes will be published before the end of July 2013, but it's been assured that consumers will be able to use their mobile phones across Europe for the same price as they do at home, encouraging consolidation of network operators.
Right now, Europe has around 100 telecoms operators, which the commission believes is less conducive to a single market for telecoms investment. This fragmentation means that network upgrades come at a slower pace, and there are fears that it will buckle under rapidly-increasing demand.
It's also hoped that a single telecoms market across the 27 member states will mean greater competition, leading to alliances and eventual mergers between telecoms companies operating in different countries.
Initially, it's thought that the move will reduce operator revenues by around two percent, but that telecoms companies will gain in the long term because consumers will be much more inclined to use their devices when they go abroad -- particularly to access the internet.
Source: http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2013-06/15/roaming-charges-die
Roaming fees for voice calls, texts and internet access will be a thing of the past across Europe from 2014, after European politicians voted to fast-track reforms of the European telecoms market.
The European Commission -- a group of 27 politicians who represent the best interests of Europe as a whole, rather than individual countries, voted in Brussels to push the reforms through before the next European elections, which will happen in May 2014. The resulting legislation will come into force on 1 July 2014.
Detailed proposals for the changes will be published before the end of July 2013, but it's been assured that consumers will be able to use their mobile phones across Europe for the same price as they do at home, encouraging consolidation of network operators.
Right now, Europe has around 100 telecoms operators, which the commission believes is less conducive to a single market for telecoms investment. This fragmentation means that network upgrades come at a slower pace, and there are fears that it will buckle under rapidly-increasing demand.
It's also hoped that a single telecoms market across the 27 member states will mean greater competition, leading to alliances and eventual mergers between telecoms companies operating in different countries.
Initially, it's thought that the move will reduce operator revenues by around two percent, but that telecoms companies will gain in the long term because consumers will be much more inclined to use their devices when they go abroad -- particularly to access the internet.
Source: http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2013-06/15/roaming-charges-die
