Europe finally halts the roaming rip-off

[Simon]

Analysts say mobile companies have paid the price for years of excessive data charges after the European Parliament pushed ahead with plans to cap roaming costs at €0.20 per MB by 2014.

The price of data while on business or holiday has led to outrageous bill-shock for people using smartphones outside their home country, with some UK operators charging up to £4 per MB.

The caps, first mooted last month, are the first limits on what phone carriers can charge in Europe and are seen as a reaction to the operators' reluctance to act in the interest of their customers. Charges will be capped at €0.70 per MB, falling to €0.20 by 2014.

Analysts say the networks have pushed the patience of the European authorities too far. "On the other side of the debate, operators have long been entrenched in the mindset that roaming is a premium service and should be charged accordingly – at a premium to home rates," said Paul Lambert, an analyst with Informa Telecoms and Media, in a blog post.

"While they have long enjoyed significant revenues from this position, persistent noises from the European Parliament and Council, along with a willingness to act on them, should have made it clear to them that they could only enjoy this position for so long."

Read more: http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/373819/europe-finally-halts-the-roaming-rip-off#ixzz1qWNTseaz

[Rik]

I wonder where they'll replace the revenue from?

[Lance]

They'll push up monthly rentals I expect.

At least my work mobile is on a decent contract. I get 100mb for £8 per day in Europe. Plenty for both work and personal use (with personal hotspot).

[Rik]

Personal hotspot? 

[Lance]

[Simon]

That's what his laptop covers.   

[Rik]

Or what covers his laptop? 

[Simon]

Don't encourage him! 

[Rik]

At his age, he shouldn't need any encouragement. 

[Lance]

[Simon]

 

[pctech]

Interesting piece over on trefor.net about O2's LTE deployment.

Imagine how quickly you'll rack up the charges when you have a downstream speed of 100 Meg or more.