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Mobile phones: Final vote over data roaming charge ban Mobile phones: Data roaming charge ban to go ahead
(about 3 hours later)
Consumers will learn shortly whether the extra costs of using a mobile phone in countries across the EU are to be scrapped. Extra costs of using a mobile phone in countries across the EU are to be scrapped, MEPs have agreed, after years of negotiations.
Proposals for a ban on data roaming charges from 15 June 2017 will go to a final vote in the European Parliament. The ban on data roaming charges from 15 June 2017 has received a final green light in the European Parliament.
Roaming charges are added by mobile operators for calls, texts and internet browsing when phone users are abroad.Roaming charges are added by mobile operators for calls, texts and internet browsing when phone users are abroad.
The plan also includes a cap on charges from 30 April next year, prior to the full ban across the EU. An interim cap on charges will take effect from 30 April next year, prior to the full ban across the EU.
Under the proposals, telecoms operators will be able to add a surcharge of no more than: That means telecoms operators will be able to add a surcharge of no more than:
The cap would make roaming within the EU 75% cheaper during the interim period, the European Commission has said.The cap would make roaming within the EU 75% cheaper during the interim period, the European Commission has said.
Some 665 MEPs voted in favour of the deal.
Bill shockBill shock
The aim of the proposals, in part, is to prevent 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 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.
Under the plans, users within the EU would be charged the same as they would in their home country. From 15 June 2017, users within the EU will be charged the same as they would in their home country.
Critics of the ban suggest the loss of revenue for mobile phone companies could push up prices in general, including prices for non-travellers.
There have been lengthy negotiations between EU officials and the mobile phone operators over the plans, which are also tied into proposals affecting how internet traffic is managed.There have been lengthy negotiations between EU officials and the mobile phone operators over the plans, which are also tied into proposals affecting how internet traffic is managed.
Yet there is expected to be some opposition to the move in the European Parliament, partly for political reasons after the UK government used the proposals as evidence for supporting EU membership. Yet there has been some opposition to the move in the European Parliament, partly for political reasons after the UK government used the proposals as evidence for supporting EU membership.
This will be the final vote on the matter, as the majority of member states have already provisionally agreed to the plan. This was the final vote on the matter, as the majority of member states have already provisionally agreed to the plan.