EU proposes new roaming rules with no time limit

European Commissioners have agreed there should be no limits imposed on mobile phone users in terms of volume and the amount of time spent using their mobile devices when abroad in the European Union(EU), a press release revealed Wednesday.

In 2015, based on a European Commission proposal, the European Parliament and the European Council agreed to end roaming charges by June 2017 for people who travel periodically in the EU.

Reports were that when the Commission unveiled the details for "free roaming" plans earlier this month, consumers were outraged that free roaming would be limited to 90 days per year.

"Commission action on roaming prices has delivered for European consumers. Today's draft rules ensure we can end roaming charges as of June 15, 2017 for all people who travel periodically in the EU, while ensuring that operators have the tools to guard against abuse of the rules," said Gunther Oettinger, commissioner for the Digital Economy and Society.

For a decade, the Commission has been working to reduce the surcharges that telecoms operators impose on their customers each time they cross a border while using their mobile device. Since 2007, roaming prices have decreased by more than 90 percent. Endit