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| EU caps roaming mobile phone fees | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The cost of making mobile phone calls in Europe is set to fall substantially after lawmakers backed plans to cap so-called "roaming" charges. | |
| The amount mobile customers are charged by local phone operators for using their handsets while abroad should now fall by as much as 75%. | |
| More than 150 million people across Europe will be affected by the changes in the pricing regime. | |
| But the new charges are not likely to come into effect until later this year. | But the new charges are not likely to come into effect until later this year. |
| Full information | Full information |
| The changes still need to be approved by the European Commission and member governments of the 27-nation bloc, although these approvals are considered a formality. | The changes still need to be approved by the European Commission and member governments of the 27-nation bloc, although these approvals are considered a formality. |
| Consumers will not feel the benefits of lower prices until late July or early August at the earliest, too late for many people travelling in Europe this summer. | Consumers will not feel the benefits of lower prices until late July or early August at the earliest, too late for many people travelling in Europe this summer. |
| Text messaging will not be covered by the proposals. | Text messaging will not be covered by the proposals. |
| Consumers will save quite a lot of money Socialist MEP Martin Schulz. Case study: EU roaming law Send us your comments | Consumers will save quite a lot of money Socialist MEP Martin Schulz. Case study: EU roaming law Send us your comments |
| Brussels has sought for some time to regulate the cost of making mobile phone calls when abroad, after finding huge differences in what people have to pay in different countries of the EU. | Brussels has sought for some time to regulate the cost of making mobile phone calls when abroad, after finding huge differences in what people have to pay in different countries of the EU. |
| Under the plans, the cost of making a mobile call anywhere in the EU would be capped at 49 euro cents (33p) a minute in year one, while receiving a call would cost 24 cents (16p) at most. | |
| These costs should now fall to 46 euro cents (31p) and 22 cents (14.9p) respectively in year two, and 43 cents and 19 cents in year three. | |
| British mobile users currently have to pay up to 5.92 euros (£4.03) for a four-minute call made while in Spain. | British mobile users currently have to pay up to 5.92 euros (£4.03) for a four-minute call made while in Spain. |
| Under the changes, this would fall to 1.96 euros (£1.33). | Under the changes, this would fall to 1.96 euros (£1.33). |
| As part of the plans, mobile users would receive a free text message informing them how much they will have to pay when travelling abroad. | |
| MEPs have backed the plans, saying that they wanted to focus on consumer priorities. | |
| "Consumers will save quite a lot of money," said Socialist MEP Martin Schulz. | "Consumers will save quite a lot of money," said Socialist MEP Martin Schulz. |
| Phone operators have criticised the price caps saying they will curb competition but some have already cut roaming costs ahead of the changes. | Phone operators have criticised the price caps saying they will curb competition but some have already cut roaming costs ahead of the changes. |