Telecommunications in the European Union
Encyclopedia
The European Commission started its work on roaming prices in July 1999, by opening a sector inquiry. This process lasted for years, without delivering any real results, even though, six years after the beginning of the enquiry, the Commission had notified two statements of objections to British and German mobile operators (access to their networks for foreign operators was considerably more expensive than for domestic service providers) for the 1997–2003 period. The case was closed without any sanction, while Neelie Kroes was in charge of Competition for the European Commission.
Regulation on roaming charges in the European Union is a part of Politics of the European Union
concerning the telecommunication industry and aimed to reduce roaming
prices for mobile telephone subscribers travelling within European Union
and European Economic Area
member states. It is regulated by the European Commission
.
The regulation's official name is "Regulation (EC) No 717/2007 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 June 2007 on roaming on public mobile telephone networks within the Community and amending Directive 2002/21/EC".
Prices within this regulation are sometimes referred with the "Eurotariff" name.
After proposal there was a public consultation on the roaming prices where people could express their opinion regarding this matter.
Primarily changes of the existing situation were backed by Viviane Reding
, EU Commissioner for Information Society and Media. Finally, after debates the Regulation was approved by European parliament
. The regulation caps the rates operators can charge each other while roaming
in the EU and also limits the tariffs an operator can charge from customers.
The regulation entered into force on 30 June 2007. From this date on, mobile phone operators within the European Union were required to inform customers about the new tariffs (called "Eurotariff") within one month (i.e. by 31 July 2007) and provide an offer for switching to the new tariff. If a customer responded to this offer, the mobile phone operator had to switch them to the new tariff within at most one month. If they did not respond, the new tariff automatically applied the latest on 30 September 2007, unless a special roaming package applied. The ceilings or Eurotariff gradually decreases every year. Operators are able to compete below maximum allowed level.
A Eurotariff is available in all 27 Member States of the European Union and in the 3 European Economic Area countries. It applies no matter if you are a pre-paid or post-paid customer. Switching to a Eurotariff is free of charge with no effect on your existing mobile phone contract. Also subscribers receive an SMS when crossing the border to another EU or EEA Member State informing them about the price (including all taxes) for making and receiving calls. This message is free. It also contains phone number where subscriber can call to find out more detailed prices by SMS or over the phone. Calling this number is free of charge.
Another decision made in October 2007 specified that this matter has relevance for the European Economic Area
(EEA) states. This means that the tariffs caps apply to EEA member states (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) as of 1 January 2008. That meant that subscribers from EU benefit from the same price caps when travelling within the EEA and vice versa.
In the middle of 2008 the Commission asked for comments on the review of the roaming rules and their possible extension to SMS and data roaming services. 39 questions were raised about the general functioning of the roaming regulation as well as specific issues concerning:
A regulation on SMS was studied by the EU Commission. Commissioner Viviane Reding
gave operators until 1 July 2008 to lower SMS and data roaming charges. The Commission then sent letters to the CEOs of all European mobile operators inquiring about their SMS and data prices. The assessment showed that prices were still too high.
The Commission reported back to the European Parliament and the Council in the end of 2008 on the need to review existing roaming rules. To prepare this report, the Commission consulted the public up to 2 July 2008.
Based on this assessment and the public consultation EU Commission decided to introduce maximum price limits for sending SMS messages while roaming. The European Regulators Group (ERG) suggested a level between 11 and 15 eurocents.
A wholesale price cap on Internet roaming was introduced on 1 July 2009 and a price cap for end users is likely going to be introduced on 1 July 2012. Customers traveling to another Member State receive an automated message of the charges that apply for data roaming services.
Under new rules as of 1 July 2009, consumers also benefit from per-second billing after 30 seconds for calls made, and per-second billing throughout for calls received to ensure that consumers do not face any 'hidden costs' when they are roaming. This was expected to increase consumers savings by over 20%.
Since 1 July 2010, operators must provide customers with the opportunity to determine in advance how much they want to spend before the service is disabled ("cut-off").
The Commission, together with the national regulatory authorities, monitored the development of the prices. If normal market conditions had been established in the market for roaming calls, the regulation was meant to expire in three years from 2007 (30 June 2010). However, the Commission could also propose to continue to regulate the roaming market, if normal market conditions were not working yet. Under the latest proposal this regulation would be extended to 30 June 2016.
Following an investigation into the costs of the absence of a Single Market in telecoms, the European Commission intends to take further measures with the objective of, for example, ensuring that the difference between roaming and national prices should approach zero by 2015.
A public consultation by the European Commission on future roaming regulation took place in December 2010 – February 2011.
The Commission suggested the next regulation in a report to the European Parliament, on 6 July 2011. The Commission wants to extend price ceilings on roaming services both at wholesale and retail (including for mobile Internet) levels. The validity of the new regulation would be extended to 10 years, with retail prices ceiling maintained until July 2016, and wholesale ceilings maintained until 2022 (but with stable prices over 2015–2022). The newest feature would be the introduction of preselection (including from MVNOs) for roaming services, starting July 2014. This scheme, according to Neelie Kroes is supposed to allow to reach the stated 2015 objective of a close to zero difference between domestic and roaming prices, even though the report to EU Parliament states, on page 9, that the scheme "will require time to [...] produce effects on the market". In August 2011, the European Regulator, BEREC, criticised the Commission proposal as unable to bring a structural solution, in a report to the EU Parliament.
and three non-EU members (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway). The EU countries apply the roaming regulation since 30 August 2007 while the non-EU countries apply the regulation since 1 January 2008.
on 29 June 2007 , 30 July 2008, 6 May 2009, 1 June 2010 and 1 June 2011.
As can be seen from this table, exchange rate fluctuations has resulted in the maximum price in some countries (such as the United Kingdom) increasing each year, despite the value in euro cents constantly decreasing.
official exchange rate. This sets the maximum that can be charged in the national currency. Providers may wish in practice to quote charges in whole
numbers of currency units, especially at the retail level, although this in practice is not compulsory. In this case, the numbers should be rounded
down. Rounding up of these numbers to above the level of the relevant cap is not permitted under any circumstances.
Regulation on roaming charges in the European Union is a part of Politics of the European Union
Politics of the European Union
The Politics of the European Union are different from other organisations and states due to the unique nature of the European Union . The EU is similar to a confederation, where many policy areas are federalised into common institutions capable of making law; however the EU does not, unlike most...
concerning the telecommunication industry and aimed to reduce roaming
Roaming
In wireless telecommunications, roaming is a general term referring to the extension of connectivity service in a location that is different from the home location where the service was registered. Roaming ensures that the wireless device is kept connected to the network, without losing the...
prices for mobile telephone subscribers travelling within European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
and European Economic Area
European Economic Area
The European Economic Area was established on 1 January 1994 following an agreement between the member states of the European Free Trade Association and the European Community, later the European Union . Specifically, it allows Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway to participate in the EU's Internal...
member states. It is regulated by the European Commission
European Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
.
The regulation's official name is "Regulation (EC) No 717/2007 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 June 2007 on roaming on public mobile telephone networks within the Community and amending Directive 2002/21/EC".
Prices within this regulation are sometimes referred with the "Eurotariff" name.
General information
The European Commission had repeatedly urged mobile operators to lower the charges for using mobile phones abroad, but they remained on average four times more expensive than domestic mobile phone calls. The data rates are 500 to 1,000 times more expensive than domestic rates. To highlight the continuing problem, the Commission launched a consumer website on roaming tariffs in October 2005. It exposed roaming prices of up to 12 euros for a 4-minute call. As even this did not change the pricing behaviour of mobile operators, the Commission proposed to intervene by regulating. The proposal for a regulation to lower international roaming charges within the EU was published by the Commission in July 2006.After proposal there was a public consultation on the roaming prices where people could express their opinion regarding this matter.
Primarily changes of the existing situation were backed by Viviane Reding
Viviane Reding
Viviane Reding is a Luxembourgian politician, currently serving as European Commissioner for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship. Before starting a professional career as a journalist for the leading newspaper in Luxembourg, the Luxemburger Wort, she obtained a doctorate in human sciences...
, EU Commissioner for Information Society and Media. Finally, after debates the Regulation was approved by European parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
. The regulation caps the rates operators can charge each other while roaming
Roaming
In wireless telecommunications, roaming is a general term referring to the extension of connectivity service in a location that is different from the home location where the service was registered. Roaming ensures that the wireless device is kept connected to the network, without losing the...
in the EU and also limits the tariffs an operator can charge from customers.
The regulation entered into force on 30 June 2007. From this date on, mobile phone operators within the European Union were required to inform customers about the new tariffs (called "Eurotariff") within one month (i.e. by 31 July 2007) and provide an offer for switching to the new tariff. If a customer responded to this offer, the mobile phone operator had to switch them to the new tariff within at most one month. If they did not respond, the new tariff automatically applied the latest on 30 September 2007, unless a special roaming package applied. The ceilings or Eurotariff gradually decreases every year. Operators are able to compete below maximum allowed level.
A Eurotariff is available in all 27 Member States of the European Union and in the 3 European Economic Area countries. It applies no matter if you are a pre-paid or post-paid customer. Switching to a Eurotariff is free of charge with no effect on your existing mobile phone contract. Also subscribers receive an SMS when crossing the border to another EU or EEA Member State informing them about the price (including all taxes) for making and receiving calls. This message is free. It also contains phone number where subscriber can call to find out more detailed prices by SMS or over the phone. Calling this number is free of charge.
Another decision made in October 2007 specified that this matter has relevance for the European Economic Area
European Economic Area
The European Economic Area was established on 1 January 1994 following an agreement between the member states of the European Free Trade Association and the European Community, later the European Union . Specifically, it allows Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway to participate in the EU's Internal...
(EEA) states. This means that the tariffs caps apply to EEA member states (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) as of 1 January 2008. That meant that subscribers from EU benefit from the same price caps when travelling within the EEA and vice versa.
In the middle of 2008 the Commission asked for comments on the review of the roaming rules and their possible extension to SMS and data roaming services. 39 questions were raised about the general functioning of the roaming regulation as well as specific issues concerning:
- Inadvertent roaming or involuntary roaming, when consumers use their mobile phone close to the border of a neighbouring country and are connected to a foreign network.
- The effect of the rules on smaller operators and on domestic prices: have the new rules led to an increase in domestic prices?
- The issue of actual vs. billed call duration: has there been any change from per second to per minute billing as a result of the new rules?
- The need to extend the duration of the rules.
- The need for similar rules concerning data and SMS roaming services at wholesale and/or retail levels in light of current retail prices and market developments.
A regulation on SMS was studied by the EU Commission. Commissioner Viviane Reding
Viviane Reding
Viviane Reding is a Luxembourgian politician, currently serving as European Commissioner for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship. Before starting a professional career as a journalist for the leading newspaper in Luxembourg, the Luxemburger Wort, she obtained a doctorate in human sciences...
gave operators until 1 July 2008 to lower SMS and data roaming charges. The Commission then sent letters to the CEOs of all European mobile operators inquiring about their SMS and data prices. The assessment showed that prices were still too high.
The Commission reported back to the European Parliament and the Council in the end of 2008 on the need to review existing roaming rules. To prepare this report, the Commission consulted the public up to 2 July 2008.
Based on this assessment and the public consultation EU Commission decided to introduce maximum price limits for sending SMS messages while roaming. The European Regulators Group (ERG) suggested a level between 11 and 15 eurocents.
A wholesale price cap on Internet roaming was introduced on 1 July 2009 and a price cap for end users is likely going to be introduced on 1 July 2012. Customers traveling to another Member State receive an automated message of the charges that apply for data roaming services.
Under new rules as of 1 July 2009, consumers also benefit from per-second billing after 30 seconds for calls made, and per-second billing throughout for calls received to ensure that consumers do not face any 'hidden costs' when they are roaming. This was expected to increase consumers savings by over 20%.
Since 1 July 2010, operators must provide customers with the opportunity to determine in advance how much they want to spend before the service is disabled ("cut-off").
The Commission, together with the national regulatory authorities, monitored the development of the prices. If normal market conditions had been established in the market for roaming calls, the regulation was meant to expire in three years from 2007 (30 June 2010). However, the Commission could also propose to continue to regulate the roaming market, if normal market conditions were not working yet. Under the latest proposal this regulation would be extended to 30 June 2016.
Following an investigation into the costs of the absence of a Single Market in telecoms, the European Commission intends to take further measures with the objective of, for example, ensuring that the difference between roaming and national prices should approach zero by 2015.
A public consultation by the European Commission on future roaming regulation took place in December 2010 – February 2011.
The Commission suggested the next regulation in a report to the European Parliament, on 6 July 2011. The Commission wants to extend price ceilings on roaming services both at wholesale and retail (including for mobile Internet) levels. The validity of the new regulation would be extended to 10 years, with retail prices ceiling maintained until July 2016, and wholesale ceilings maintained until 2022 (but with stable prices over 2015–2022). The newest feature would be the introduction of preselection (including from MVNOs) for roaming services, starting July 2014. This scheme, according to Neelie Kroes is supposed to allow to reach the stated 2015 objective of a close to zero difference between domestic and roaming prices, even though the report to EU Parliament states, on page 9, that the scheme "will require time to [...] produce effects on the market". In August 2011, the European Regulator, BEREC, criticised the Commission proposal as unable to bring a structural solution, in a report to the EU Parliament.
Members
Currently roaming regulation is applied to and within 30 countries: all 27 EU membersMember State of the European Union
A member state of the European Union is a state that is party to treaties of the European Union and has thereby undertaken the privileges and obligations that EU membership entails. Unlike membership of an international organisation, being an EU member state places a country under binding laws in...
and three non-EU members (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway). The EU countries apply the roaming regulation since 30 August 2007 while the non-EU countries apply the regulation since 1 January 2008.
Common limits
| In force from | 30 Aug 2007 | 30 Aug 2008 | 1 Jul 2009 | 1 Jul 2010 | 1 Jul 2011 | 1 Jul 2012 | 1 Jul 2013 | 1 Jul 2014 | 1 Jul 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| In force until | 29 Aug 2008 | 30 Jun 2009 | 30 Jun 2010 | 30 Jun 2011 | 30 Jun 2012 | 30 Jun 2013 | 30 Jun 2014 | 30 Jun 2016 | 30 Jun 2022 | ||
| Service | Unit | Roaming limits in EU and EEA countries (all the prices are in euros without VAT) |
|||||||||
| Applies to all subscribers | |||||||||||
| Outgoing calls to any EU and EEA number | price of 1 minute | 0.49 | 0.46 | 0.43 | 0.39 | 0.35 | 0.32 | 0.28 | 0.24 | — | |
| billing interval | — | per-second starting from 31st second | per-second starting from 31st second | — | |||||||
| Incoming calls from any number | price of 1 minute | 0.24 | 0.22 | 0.19 | 0.15 | 0.11 | 0.11 | 0.10 | — | ||
| billing interval | — | per-second starting from 1st second | per-second starting from 1st second | — | |||||||
| Incoming calls redirected to voice mail When incoming calls are redirected to voice mail, operators can charge for message recording as much as a sum of their tariffs for incoming calls and outgoing calls back to home country. Beginning on 1 July 2010 operators cannot charge their roaming customers for the receipt by them of a roaming voice mail message. Listening to such messages could still be charged as an outgoing call in the future. | price of 1 minute | 0.73 | 0.68 | 0.62 | free of charge | free of charge | — | ||||
| Outgoing SMS to any EU and EEA number | price of 1 message | — | 0.11 | 0.10 | — | ||||||
| Incoming SMS from any number | price of 1 message | — | free of charge | ||||||||
| Data transfer | price of 1 Megabyte | — | 0.90 | 0.70 | 0.50 | — | |||||
| billing interval | — | per 1 kilobyte starting from 1st kilobyte | |||||||||
| monthly default cut-off limit | — | 50.00 | 50.00 | — | |||||||
| Right to choose different operator for roaming Customer would have the option to sign for roaming contract, separate from national mobile services, while keeping the same phone number and SIM card. | — | — | + | ||||||||
| Default notification SMS with roaming prices | — | + | |||||||||
| Free number to call for detailed roaming prices | — | + | |||||||||
| Free '112' access in roaming | — | + | |||||||||
| Applies only to operators | |||||||||||
| Outgoing calls to any EU and EEA number | price of 1 minute | 0.30 | 0.28 | 0.26 | 0.22 | 0.18 | 0.14 | 0.10 | 0.06 | ||
| billing interval | — | per-second starting from 31st second | |||||||||
| Outgoing SMS to any EU and EEA number | price of 1 message | — | 0.04 | 0.03 | 0.02 | ||||||
| Incoming SMS from any number | price of 1 message | — | free of charge | ||||||||
| Data transfer | price of 1 Megabyte | — | 1.00 | 0.80 | 0.50 | 0.30 | 0.20 | 0.10 | |||
| billing interval | — | per 1 kilobyte starting from 1st kilobyte | |||||||||
| Right to use other operators' networks in other Member States at regulated wholesale prices | — | + | |||||||||
| Legend | |||||||||||
| — + |
Not regulated Regulated |
Past | Active | Future | Proposal Proposal presented by the European Commission on 6 July 2011 (currently under negotiations with European Parliament and Council or awaiting final approval) | ||||||
Exchange rates
For services paid for in currencies other than the euro, the amount in euros is converted to the other currency using the reference rates published in the Official Journal of the European UnionOfficial Journal of the European Union
The Official Journal of the European Union is the official gazette of record for the European Union . It is published every working day in all of the official languages of the member states. Only legal acts published in the Official Journal are binding.It was first published on 30 December 1952 as...
on 29 June 2007 , 30 July 2008, 6 May 2009, 1 June 2010 and 1 June 2011.
| Exchange rate published in EU's Official Journal Official Journal of the European Union The Official Journal of the European Union is the official gazette of record for the European Union . It is published every working day in all of the official languages of the member states. Only legal acts published in the Official Journal are binding.It was first published on 30 December 1952 as... |
29 Jun 2007 | 30 Jun 2008 | 6 May 2009 | 1 Jun 2010 |
1 Jun 2011 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| In force from | 30 Aug 2007 For Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway the listed rates came in force from 2008.01.01. | 30 Aug 2008 | 1 Jul 2009 | 1 Jul 2010 | 1 Jul 2011 | |
| In force until | 29 Aug 2008 | 30 Jun 2009 | 30 Jun 2010 | 30 Jun 2011 | 30 Jun 2012 | |
| Non-euro EU currencies | Exchange rate (units per 1 euro): | |||||
| Bulgarian lev Bulgarian lev The lev is the currency of Bulgaria. It is divided in 100 stotinki . In archaic Bulgarian the word "lev" meant "lion".It is speculated that Bulgaria, as a member of the European Union will adopt the Euro in 2015 .- First lev, 1881–1952 :... |
1.9558 | 1.9558 | 1.9558 | 1.9558 | 1.9558 | |
| Cypriot pound Cypriot pound The pound, also known as the lira , was the currency of Cyprus, including the Sovereign Base Areas in Akrotiri and Dhekelia, until 31 December 2007, when the Republic of Cyprus adopted the euro... |
0.5837 In euro from 1 January 2008. | --- | ||||
| Czech koruna Czech koruna The Czech koruna or Czech crown has been the currency of the Czech Republic since 8 February 1993 when, together with its Slovak counterpart, it replaced the Czechoslovak koruna at par.... |
28.718 | 23.941 | 26.805 | 25.505 | 24.547 | |
| Danish krone Danish krone The krone is the official currency of the Kingdom of Denmark consisting of Denmark, the Faroe Islands and Greenland. It is subdivided into 100 øre... |
7.4422 | 7.4619 | 7.4485 | 7.4395 | 7.4561 | |
| Estonian kroon Estonian kroon In 1992, coins were introduced in denominations of 5, 10, 20 & 50 senti, as well as 1 kroon. The 1 kroon was struck in cupronickel, the others in aluminum-bronze. However, in 1997, nickel-plated steel 20 senti were introduced, followed by aluminum-bronze 1 kroon in 1998. 5 senti coins were not... |
15.6466 | 15.6466 | 15.6466 | 15.6466 In euro from 1 January 2011. | --- | |
| Hungarian forint Hungarian forint The forint is the currency of Hungary. It is divided into 100 fillér, although fillér coins are no longer in circulation. The introduction of the forint on 1 August 1946 was a crucial step of the post-WWII stabilization of the Hungarian economy, and the currency remained relatively stable until... |
246.15 | 231.72 | 285.83 | 275.53 | 266.85 | |
| Latvian lats Latvian lats The lats is the currency of Latvia. It is abbreviated as Ls. The lats is sub-divided into 100 santīmi .... |
0.6963 | 0.7042 | 0.7093 | 0.7090 | 0.7095 | |
| Lithuanian litas Lithuanian litas The Lithuanian litas is the currency of Lithuania. It is divided into 100 centų... |
3.4528 | 3.4528 | 3.4528 | 3.4528 | 3.4528 | |
| Maltese pound | 0.4293 | --- | ||||
| Polish złoty | 3.7677 | 3.2185 | 4.4135 | 4.0791 | 3.9558 | |
| Pound sterling Pound sterling The pound sterling , commonly called the pound, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. It is subdivided into 100 pence... |
0.6740 | 0.7867 | 0.8861 | 0.84863 | 0.87205 | |
| Romanian leu Romanian leu The leu is the currency of Romania. It is subdivided into 100 bani . The name of the currency means "lion". On 1 July 2005, Romania underwent a currency reform, switching from the previous leu to a new leu . 1 RON is equal to 10,000 ROL... |
3.1340 | 3.5381 | 4.1592 | 4.1855 | 4.128 | |
| Slovak koruna Slovak koruna In 1993, coins were introduced in denominations of 10, 20 and 50 haliers, 1, 2, 5 and 10 korunas. The 10 and 20 halier coins were taken out of circulation on 31 December 2003.... |
33.635 | 30.395 In euro from 1 January 2009. | --- | |||
| Swedish krona Swedish krona The krona has been the currency of Sweden since 1873. Both the ISO code "SEK" and currency sign "kr" are in common use; the former precedes or follows the value, the latter usually follows it, but especially in the past, it sometimes preceded the value... |
9.2525 | 9.4490 | 10.616 | 9.6230 | 8.8932 | |
| EEA currencies | Exchange rate (units per 1 euro): | |||||
| Icelandic króna Icelandic króna The króna is the currency of Iceland. The króna is technically subdivided into 100 aurar , but in practice this subdivision is no longer used.... |
84.26 | 124.54 | unclear | unclear | unclear | |
| Norwegian krone Norwegian krone The krone is the currency of Norway and its dependent territories. The plural form is kroner . It is subdivided into 100 øre. The ISO 4217 code is NOK, although the common local abbreviation is kr. The name translates into English as "crown"... |
7.9725 | 8.0430 | 8.6350 | 7.9420 | 7.759 | |
| Swiss franc Swiss franc The franc is the currency and legal tender of Switzerland and Liechtenstein; it is also legal tender in the Italian exclave Campione d'Italia. Although not formally legal tender in the German exclave Büsingen , it is in wide daily use there... Currency of Liechtenstein. |
1.6553 | 1.6315 | 1.5089 | 1.4183 | 1.2275 | |
| Past | ||||||
| Active | ||||||
| Future | ||||||
| --- | Not regulated | |||||
Method of calculating
As the VAT rates and currencies vary across the EU and EEA, the European Commission publishes price caps in euro and excluding VAT. So the final prices for each country can be calculated by adding the corresponding VAT rate and converting to the currency of the country (if non-euro).| For countries using the euro | For countries using currency other than euro |
|---|---|
 |
 |
| where |
 is European Commission maximum allowed tariff without VAT in euro |
 is Value Added Tax rate for specified country, given in per cent |
 is Exchange rate for specified country published by ECB |
Local prices
| In force from | 30 Aug 2007 For Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway the listed rates came in force from 1 Jan 2008. |
30 Aug 2008 | 1 Jul 2009 | 1 Jul 2010 | 1 Jul 2011 | 30 Aug 2007 |
30 Aug 2008 | 1 Jul 2009 | 1 Jul 2010 | 1 Jul 2011 | 1 Jul 2009 | 1 Jul 2010 | 1 Jul 2011 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| In force until | 29 Aug 2008 | 30 Jun 2009 | 30 Jun 2010 | 30 Jun 2011 | 30 Jun 2012 | 29 Aug 2008 | 30 Jun 2009 | 30 Jun 2010 | 30 Jun 2011 | 30 Jun 2012 | 30 Jun 2010 | 30 Jun 2011 | 30 Jun 2012 | ||||
| Country | VAT rate |
Maximum price in local currency and inclusive VAT for: | |||||||||||||||
| Outgoing calls to EU and EEA numbers (for 1 minute) |
Incoming calls from any number (for 1 minute) |
Outgoing SMS to EU and EEA (for 1 message) |
|||||||||||||||
 Austria |
20 % | 0.588 EUR | 0.552 EUR | 0.516 EUR | 0.468 EUR | 0.420 EUR | 0.288 EUR | 0.264 EUR | 0.228 EUR | 0.180 EUR | 0.132 EUR | 0.132 EUR | 0.132 EUR | 0.132 EUR | |||
 Belgium |
21 % | 0.592 EUR | 0.556 EUR | 0.520 EUR | 0.471 EUR | 0.423 EUR | 0.290 EUR | 0.266 EUR | 0.229 EUR | 0.181 EUR | 0.133 EUR | 0.133 EUR | 0.133 EUR | 0.133 EUR | |||
 Kingdom of Bulgaria |
20 % | 1.150 BGN | 1.079 BGN | 1.009 BGN | 0.915 BGN | 0.821 BGN | 0.563 BGN | 0.516 BGN | 0.445 BGN | 0.352 BGN | 0.258 BGN | 0.258 BGN | 0.258 BGN | 0.258 BGN | |||
 Cyprus |
15 % | 0.328 CYP 0.563 EUR The top rate was valid between 30 August 2007 and 31 December 2007, the bottom rate was valid between 1 January 2008 and 29 August 2008. |
0.529 EUR | 0.494 EUR | 0.448 EUR | 0.402 EUR | 0.161 CYP 0.276 EUR |
0.253 EUR | 0.218 EUR | 0.172 EUR | 0.126 EUR | 0.126 EUR | 0.126 EUR | 0.126 EUR | |||
 Czech Republic |
19 % 20 % |
16.745 CZK | 13.105 CZK | 13.716 CZK 13.831 CZK |
11.936 CZK | 10.309 CZK | 8.201 CZK | 6.267 CZK | 6.060 CZK 6.111 CZK |
4.590 CZK | 3.240 CZK | 3.508 CZK 3.538 CZK |
3.366 CZK | 3.240 CZK | |||
 Denmark |
25 % | 4.558 DKK | 4.290 DKK | 4.003 DKK | 3.626 DKK | 3.262 DKK | 2.232 DKK | 2.052 DKK | 1.769 DKK | 1.394 DKK | 1.025 DKK | 1.024 DKK | 1.022 DKK | 1.025 DKK | |||
 Estonia |
18 % 20 % |
9.046 EEK | 8.492 EEK | 8.073 EEK | 7.322 EEK 0.468 EUR |
0.420 EUR | 4.431 EEK | 4.061 EEK | 3.567 EEK | 2.816 EEK 0.180 EUR |
0.132 EUR | 2.065 EEK | 2.065 EEK 0.132 EUR |
0.132 EUR | |||
 Finland |
22 % 23 % |
0.597 EUR | 0.561 EUR | 0.524 EUR | 0.479 EUR | 0.430 EUR | 0.292 EUR | 0.268 EUR | 0.231 EUR | 0.184 EUR | 0.135 EUR | 0.134 EUR | 0.135 EUR | 0.135 EUR | |||
 Early Modern France |
19.6 % | 0.586 EUR | 0.550 EUR | 0.514 EUR | 0.466 EUR | 0.418 EUR | 0.287 EUR | 0.263 EUR | 0.227 EUR | 0.179 EUR | 0.131 EUR | 0.131 EUR | 0.131 EUR | 0.131 EUR | |||
 Germany |
19 % | 0.583 EUR | 0.547 EUR | 0.511 EUR | 0.464 EUR | 0.416 EUR | 0.285 EUR | 0.261 EUR | 0.226 EUR | 0.178 EUR | 0.130 EUR | 0.130 EUR | 0.130 EUR | 0.130 EUR | |||
 Greece |
19 % 21 % 23 % |
0.583 EUR | 0.547 EUR | 0.511 EUR 0.520 EUR |
0.479 EUR | 0.430 EUR | 0.285 EUR | 0.261 EUR | 0.226 EUR 0.229 EUR |
0.184 EUR | 0.135 EUR | 0.133 EUR | 0.135 EUR | 0.135 EUR | |||
 Hungary |
20 % 25% |
144.73 HUF | 127.90 HUF | 153.63 HUF | 134.32 HUF | 116.74 HUF | 70.89 HUF | 61.17 HUF | 67.88 HUF | 51.66 HUF | 36.69 HUF | 39.30 HUF | 37.88 HUF | 36.69 HUF | |||
 Republic of Ireland |
21 % 21.5 % |
0.592 EUR | 0.556 EUR 0.558 EUR |
0.522 EUR | 0.473 EUR | 0.425 EUR | 0.290 EUR | 0.266 EUR 0.267 EUR |
0.230 EUR | 0.182 EUR | 0.133 EUR | 0.133 EUR | 0.133 EUR | 0.133 EUR | |||
 Italy |
20 % | 0.588 EUR | 0.552 EUR | 0.516 EUR | 0.468 EUR | 0.420 EUR | 0.288 EUR | 0.264 EUR | 0.228 EUR | 0.180 EUR | 0.132 EUR | 0.132 EUR | 0.132 EUR | 0.132 EUR | |||
 Latvia |
18 % 21 % 22 % |
0.402 LVL | 0.382 LVL 0.391 LVL The top rate was valid between 30 August 2008 and 31 December 2008, the bottom rate was valid between 1 January 2009 and 30 June 2009. |
0.369 LVL | 0.334 LVL 0.337 LVL |
0.302 LVL | 0.197 LVL | 0.182 LVL 0.187 LVL |
0.163 LVL | 0.128 LVL 0.129 LVL |
0.095 LVL | 0.094 LVL | 0.094 LVL 0.095 LVL |
0.095 LVL | |||
 Lithuania |
18 % 19 % |
1.996 LTL | 1.874 LTL 1.890 LTL |
1.766 LTL | 1.602 LTL | 1.438 LTL | 0.977 LTL | 0.896 LTL 0.903 LTL |
0.780 LTL | 0.616 LTL | 0.451 LTL | 0.451 LTL | 0.451 LTL | 0.451 LTL | |||
 Luxembourg |
15 % | 0.563 EUR | 0.529 EUR | 0.494 EUR | 0.448 EUR | 0.402 EUR | 0.276 EUR | 0.253 EUR | 0.218 EUR | 0.172 EUR | 0.126 EUR | 0.126 EUR | 0.126 EUR | 0.126 EUR | |||
 Malta |
18 % | 0.248 MTL 0.578 EUR |
0.542 EUR | 0.507 EUR | 0.460 EUR | 0.413 EUR | 0.121 MTL 0.283 EUR |
0.259 EUR | 0.224 EUR | 0.177 EUR | 0.129 EUR | 0.129 EUR | 0.129 EUR | 0.129 EUR | |||
 Netherlands |
19 % | 0.583 EUR | 0.547 EUR | 0.511 EUR | 0.464 EUR | 0.416 EUR | 0.285 EUR | 0.261 EUR | 0.226 EUR | 0.178 EUR | 0.130 EUR | 0.130 EUR | 0.130 EUR | 0.130 EUR | |||
 Poland |
22 % 23 % |
2.252 PLN | 1.806 PLN | 2.320 PLN | 1.940 PLN 1.956 PLN |
1.702 PLN | 1.103 PLN | 0.863 PLN | 1.025 PLN | 0.746 PLN 0.752 PLN |
0.535 PLN | 0.593 PLN | 0.547 PLN 0.551 PLN |
0.535 PLN | |||
 Portugal |
20 % | 0.588 EUR | 0.552 EUR | 0.516 EUR | 0.468 EUR | 0.420 EUR | 0.288 EUR | 0.264 EUR | 0.228 EUR | 0.180 EUR | 0.132 EUR | 0.132 EUR | 0.132 EUR | 0.132 EUR | |||
 Kingdom of Romania |
19 % 24% |
1.827 RON | 1.936 RON | 2.128 RON | 2.024 RON | 1.791 RON | 0.895 RON | 0.926 RON | 0.940 RON | 0.778 RON | 0.563 RON | 0.544 RON | 0.570 RON | 0.563 RON | |||
 Slovakia |
19 % | 19.612 SKK | 16.638 SKK 0.547 EUR |
0.511 EUR | 0.464 EUR | 0.416 EUR | 9.606 SKK | 7.957 SKK 0.261 EUR |
0.226 EUR | 0.178 EUR | 0.130 EUR | 0.130 EUR | 0.130 EUR | 0.130 EUR | |||
 Slovenia |
20 % | 0.588 EUR | 0.552 EUR | 0.516 EUR | 0.468 EUR | 0.420 EUR | 0.288 EUR | 0.264 EUR | 0.228 EUR | 0.180 EUR | 0.132 EUR | 0.132 EUR | 0.132 EUR | 0.132 EUR | |||
 Spain |
16 % | 0.568 EUR | 0.533 EUR | 0.498 EUR | 0.452 EUR | 0.406 EUR | 0.278 EUR | 0.255 EUR | 0.220 EUR | 0.174 EUR | 0.127 EUR | 0.127 EUR | 0.127 EUR | 0.127 EUR | |||
 Sweden |
25 % | 5.667 SEK | 5.433 SEK | 5.706 SEK | 4.691 SEK | 3.890 SEK | 2.775 SEK | 2.598 SEK | 2.521 SEK | 1.804 SEK | 1.222 SEK | 1.459 SEK | 1.323 SEK | 1.222 SEK | |||
| 17.5 % 15 % 17.5 % 20 % |
0.39 GBP | 0.43 GBP 0.42 GBP |
0.44 GBP | 0.19 GBP | 0.20 GBP | 0.19 GBP 0.20 GBP |
0.11 GBP | ||||||||||
 Iceland |
24.5 % | 51.40 ISK | 71.32 ISK | unclear 0.54 EUR |
unclear 77.09 ISK 0.54 EUR |
unclear 72.48 ISK 0.57 EUR |
25.18 ISK | 34.11 ISK | unclear 0.24 EUR |
unclear 0.14 EUR |
|||||||
 Liechtenstein |
7.5 % | 0.87 CHF | 0.81 CHF | 0.70 CHF | 0.43 CHF | 0.39 CHF | 0.31 CHF | 0.18 CHF | |||||||||
 Norway |
25 % | 4.883 NOK | 4.624 NOK | 4.641 NOK | 3.870 NOK | 3.394 NOK | 2.391 NOK | 2.211 NOK | 2.050 NOK | 1.488 NOK | 1.066 NOK | 1.187 NOK | 1.091 NOK | 1.066 NOK | |||
| Past | |||||||||||||||||
| Active | |||||||||||||||||
| Future | |||||||||||||||||
As can be seen from this table, exchange rate fluctuations has resulted in the maximum price in some countries (such as the United Kingdom) increasing each year, despite the value in euro cents constantly decreasing.
Rounding
The charge limits for the Eurotariff and the wholesale average charge should be calculated to the maximum number of decimal places permitted by theofficial exchange rate. This sets the maximum that can be charged in the national currency. Providers may wish in practice to quote charges in whole
numbers of currency units, especially at the retail level, although this in practice is not compulsory. In this case, the numbers should be rounded
down. Rounding up of these numbers to above the level of the relevant cap is not permitted under any circumstances.
See also
- RoamingRoamingIn wireless telecommunications, roaming is a general term referring to the extension of connectivity service in a location that is different from the home location where the service was registered. Roaming ensures that the wireless device is kept connected to the network, without losing the...
- Body of European Regulators of Electronic CommunicationsBody of European Regulators of Electronic CommunicationsThe Body of European Regulators of Electronic Communications is the regulating agency of the telecommunication market in the European Union. It was created by the Telecoms Package which was passed in September 2009....
(BEREC) - Telecoms PackageTelecoms PackageThe Telecoms Reform Package is a law of the European Union, aimed at updating the EU Telecoms Rules of 2002 and unifying Europe's tele-communications market for all 27 EU member states...
External links
- Telecoms in the EU. European Commission.
- Reference Documents
- EU-website about the roaming charges regulation
- Commissioner Reding's Comments to the Press on Data Roaming (Barcelona, 11 February 2008)
- ERG Report of 23 June 2008
- EU Public consultation May 2008
- New Rules proposed by the Commission on 23 September 2008
- Lower charges for mobile roaming from 1 July
- Directive 2002/20/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 March 2002 on the authorisation of electronic communications networks and services (Authorisation Directive)
- Directive 2002/21/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 March 2002 on a common regulatory framework for electronic communications networks and services (Framework Directive)
- Directive 2000/31/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 8 June 2000 on certain legal aspects of information society services, in particular electronic commerce, in the Internal Market ('Directive on electronic commerce')