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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/jun/03/what-has-the-eu-ever-done-for-my-mobile-phone

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What has the EU ever done for my … mobile phone? What has the EU ever done for my … mobile phone? What has the EU ever done for my … mobile phone?
(6 months later)
Using your mobile phone in Europe used to be ruinously expensive but from next year it should cost no more than making a call in the UK.Using your mobile phone in Europe used to be ruinously expensive but from next year it should cost no more than making a call in the UK.
European officials have agreed to scrap mobile roaming charges, meaning holidaymakers should no longer arrive home to find they have unwittingly racked up eye-watering bills.European officials have agreed to scrap mobile roaming charges, meaning holidaymakers should no longer arrive home to find they have unwittingly racked up eye-watering bills.
More than 9 million Britons are affected by “bill shock” every year, according to price comparison service uSwitch.More than 9 million Britons are affected by “bill shock” every year, according to price comparison service uSwitch.
From mid-2017 all increased costs for calls, texts and data will be abolished. It follows two years of negotiations, as EU member states put up roadblocks for fear that their domestic mobile phone operators would be adversely affected.From mid-2017 all increased costs for calls, texts and data will be abolished. It follows two years of negotiations, as EU member states put up roadblocks for fear that their domestic mobile phone operators would be adversely affected.
As of the end of April, roaming costs were reduced to five cents (3.95p) a minute for calls, two cents an SMS and five cents a megabyte of data.As of the end of April, roaming costs were reduced to five cents (3.95p) a minute for calls, two cents an SMS and five cents a megabyte of data.
“This shows what we can achieve when Britain plays a leading role in Europe,” said Liberal Democrat MEP Catherine Bearder.“This shows what we can achieve when Britain plays a leading role in Europe,” said Liberal Democrat MEP Catherine Bearder.
However, roaming charges will not be completely removed until June 2017 and will require reform of the roaming wholesale market on which national phone operators across Europe trade services between one another.However, roaming charges will not be completely removed until June 2017 and will require reform of the roaming wholesale market on which national phone operators across Europe trade services between one another.
Any delay to these reforms could put back the date at which European roaming charges are scrapped for good.Any delay to these reforms could put back the date at which European roaming charges are scrapped for good.
The European commission also looks out for potential competition issues and this month blocked the proposed sale of O2 to Hutchison, the owner of Three.The European commission also looks out for potential competition issues and this month blocked the proposed sale of O2 to Hutchison, the owner of Three.
The commission opposed the £10.3bn deal on the grounds that it would mean less choice and higher prices for British consumers.The commission opposed the £10.3bn deal on the grounds that it would mean less choice and higher prices for British consumers.
It has also taken steps to standardise mobile phone chargers, although it has found it difficult to get Apple to cooperate.It has also taken steps to standardise mobile phone chargers, although it has found it difficult to get Apple to cooperate.
Going a bit further back in history, cooperation between European states on standardised mobile technology has been credited with putting the region at the forefront of the mobile phone industry in its early days.Going a bit further back in history, cooperation between European states on standardised mobile technology has been credited with putting the region at the forefront of the mobile phone industry in its early days.
“Rapid adoption of the GSM standard in the 1990s made Europe the world leader in mobile communications for two decades,” according to Vodafone.“Rapid adoption of the GSM standard in the 1990s made Europe the world leader in mobile communications for two decades,” according to Vodafone.
All of this means that as of 2014, Europe was the region with the highest mobile penetration in the world, 78% compared with 72% in the US and 50% worldwide.All of this means that as of 2014, Europe was the region with the highest mobile penetration in the world, 78% compared with 72% in the US and 50% worldwide.