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EU rewrites plans to scrap mobile roaming charges | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
European officials are rewriting detailed plans on how to bring data roaming charges to an end in countries across the EU. | European officials are rewriting detailed plans on how to bring data roaming charges to an end in countries across the EU. |
Last year, the European Parliament agreed that extra costs faced by EU travellers using a mobile phone would be scrapped in June 2017. | Last year, the European Parliament agreed that extra costs faced by EU travellers using a mobile phone would be scrapped in June 2017. |
Detailed plans announced this week suggested that charges would only be banned for 90 days a year. | Detailed plans announced this week suggested that charges would only be banned for 90 days a year. |
That draft has now been ripped up and new plans will be published soon. | That draft has now been ripped up and new plans will be published soon. |
Bill shocks | Bill shocks |
An interim limit on roaming charges has been in place since April, with a full ban anticipated by June 2017. From that point, users within the EU will be charged the same as they would be in their home country. | An interim limit on roaming charges has been in place since April, with a full ban anticipated by June 2017. From that point, users within the EU will be charged the same as they would be in their home country. |
The aim of the ban, in part, is to prevent EU consumers being caught out by huge bills when downloading films or other data during their European holidays. | The aim of the ban, in part, is to prevent EU consumers being caught out by huge bills when downloading films or other data during their European holidays. |
There have been a number of cases when mobile users have been landed with bills for hundreds of euros or pounds. | There have been a number of cases when mobile users have been landed with bills for hundreds of euros or pounds. |
Critics of the ban suggest the loss of revenue for mobile phone companies could push up prices in general, including prices for non-travellers. | Critics of the ban suggest the loss of revenue for mobile phone companies could push up prices in general, including prices for non-travellers. |
'Listening' | 'Listening' |
The European Commission drew up plans which suggested that the full ban would in fact have a time limit. | The European Commission drew up plans which suggested that the full ban would in fact have a time limit. |
The proposal would have let companies charge roaming fees to consumers who used their phones abroad for more than 90 days in a year or for more than 30 days in a row. | The proposal would have let companies charge roaming fees to consumers who used their phones abroad for more than 90 days in a year or for more than 30 days in a row. |
Commission spokesman Alexander Winterstein said that, on average, EU citizens spent 12 days abroad per year. | Commission spokesman Alexander Winterstein said that, on average, EU citizens spent 12 days abroad per year. |
"Roaming charges are going to disappear entirely by June 2017, period," he said. | "Roaming charges are going to disappear entirely by June 2017, period," he said. |
But he added that, on the instruction of Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, the draft proposal of exactly how that would happen would be withdrawn and a new version would be produced. | But he added that, on the instruction of Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, the draft proposal of exactly how that would happen would be withdrawn and a new version would be produced. |
"We have been listening and now we are going back to the drawing board," he said. | "We have been listening and now we are going back to the drawing board," he said. |
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