European Parliament approves reduction of mutual roaming tariffs for providers

The European Parliament has passed by an overwhelming majority a proposal from the European Commission to reduce mutual roaming rates for providers. According to Parliament, this has cleared the last hurdle to abolish roaming charges as of 15 June.

It is not about tariffs for end users, but about the tariffs that providers charge each other when customers roam on their networks. By lowering mutual roaming rates for providers, providers in some countries, including the Benelux, are spending less money on abolishing roaming rates than they would otherwise. If providers have more customers going abroad than users from abroad roaming on their network, they lose money.

The maximum rate for data is 7.70 euros per GB from June 15 and that will decrease in steps in the coming years to 2.50 euros per GB in 2022. The European Commission closed the deal at the beginning of February. Parliament approved the deal on Thursday by 549 votes to 27. Fifty MPs abstained.

From June 15, providers will no longer be allowed to charge consumers extra money for roaming. Many providers will then apply the data bundles that are valid in their own country to the entire European Union.