Roaming Charges In EU Really Coming To An End In 4 Months

Great news for Europeans who live in countries included in the European Union. Not so good news for those who just left. The European Commission, the EU's governing body, has just proudly announced that the final obstacle to abolishing non-uniform roaming charges with the region has been overcome. That is why starting mid June this year, Europeans traveling to other EU countries will be able to enjoy "wholesale" roaming prices that will feel like "roam-at-home".

Unlike the United States, the European Union is made up of different countries with different cultures, and different economics. That hasn't stopped the EU from trying to at least give the semblance and feeling of a unified region, especially when it comes to traveling to member territories.

For almost a decade now, the EU has been moving to put an end to the usual surcharge that service providers collect as roaming charges, perhaps the biggest bane of travelers in this day and age of smartphones. In 2015, the thrust reached a milestone when the European Parliament ratified the "roam-like-at-home" plan, which was scheduled to take effect this year.

Starting 15th June this year, that program goes into the implementation phase. Voice calls will cost 3.2 cents per minute while an SMS will cost 1 cent. No matter what your carrier is, no matter where you're calling or sending to.

The story for data charges, however, is a bit more complicated and will take 5 years to fully take effect. Each year, data caps will be reduced to specified amounts, starting on the following dates:

• €7.7 per GB – 15 June 2017

• €6 per GB – 1 January 2018

• €4.5 per GB – 1 January 2019

• €3.5 per GB – 1 January 2020

• €3 per GB – 1 January 2021

• €2.5 per GB – 1 January 2022

SOURCE: European Commission