The cost of sending text messages in roaming in the European Union will be 60% lower, as of July 1, and wholesale services (taxed by mobile operators when bridging networks) related to mobile internet will be 40% cheaper, according to the law discussed Wednesday in the EP.
The cap for SMS sent in roaming will drop to EUR0.11 per message, without tax, compared to the current EUR0.28, according to Reuters. Mobile operators will be able to collect a maximum EUR1 per 1 MB data downloaded from the internet in roaming, compared to the current EUR1.68 tax.
The new roaming rules, which add to a first EU regulation on voice roaming adopted in 2007 will apply until summer 2012.
The new EU Roaming Regulation will become directly applicable law throughout all 27 EU Member States on 1 July 2009.
The GSM Association, which represents the interests of the main mobile operators, stated the measure is unnecessary, as fees are already dropping.