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| Mobile phones: Data roaming charges will be abolished | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Extra costs of using a mobile phone in countries across the EU are to be scrapped, MEPs have agreed, after years of negotiations. | Extra costs of using a mobile phone in countries across the EU are to be scrapped, MEPs have agreed, after years of negotiations. |
| The ban on data roaming charges from 15 June 2017 has received a final green light 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. |
| An interim cap on charges will take effect 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. |
| That means 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. | Some 665 MEPs voted in favour of the deal. |
| Bill shock | Bill shock |
| 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. | 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. |
| From 15 June 2017, users within the EU will 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. | 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 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. | 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 was 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. |