EU Destinations

In June 2007, the European Union (EU) reached an agreement on a Regulation that places a price limit called the “Eurotariff” on the cost of using your mobile phone while travelling within the EU. The Regulation proposed by the EU brings down mobile roaming charges with reductions in July 2008, July 2009, July 2010 and July 2011. The roaming Regulation became law at the end of June 2007.

The Eurotariff came into effect for all consumers who use their mobile phone while travelling in the EU on 30 August 2007. ComReg has monitored compliance in this area and currently all Irish mobile operators are offering the "Eurotariff".

What you need to know about the Eurotariff

• Your operator has automatically placed you on the “Eurotariff” since 30 August 2007.
• If you are already on a roaming package e.g. “Vodafone Passport” or 02’s “Travel” you will remain on that package and will not be automatically put on the “Eurotariff” unless you specify otherwise. Some charges on roaming packages other than the ''Eurotarriff'' may exceed the ''Eurotariff'' charges, but the package in its entirety may be more beneficial to consumers, depending on their particular roaming requirements.
• Any roaming customer may switch to or from the Eurotariff at any time (1 day turnaround).The operator may delay such a switch until the previous roaming tariff has been effective for a specified minimum period not exceeding 3 months
• The Eurotariff applies to both bill pay and pre pay customers. 
• Each mobile operator may not refer to the regulated tariff as the “Eurotariff” but may include the regulated tariff as part of current branded roaming offerings.

 

In September 2008 the European commission published a proposal to review the functioning of the roaming regulation.

As of 1 July 2009 the amended roaming regulations came into force.

What kind of changes will come into force on 1 July 2010 ?

• Euro SMS introduced :      Max charge 13c
• Voice calls - To make :     Max charge 47c 
• Voice calls - To receive :  Max charge 18c
• A roaming price information SMS must be delivered to your mobile when you enter an EU country. The SMS must contain pricing information for voice, SMS, and data roaming. It must contain a freephone number to contact your operator on if you require further pricing information. It also must include the European emergency services number (112).

What kind of additional changes will come into force in 2010 ?

• From March 1 2010 operators shall provide a facility to help you monitor and control your data roaming spending. You will be able to opt in, free of charge, to a service which will notify you when you have reached a financial or data usage limit.
• If you haven't opted in by July 2010, a financial limit not exceeding €50 (ex VAT) will automatically apply to your account.
• From 1 July 2010 mobile operators shall not charge customers for the receipt of a voicemail message while roaming in the EU

The table below shows the "Eurotariff" call costs charged by the mobile operators. The charges are shown at a per minute rate.

Eurotariff roaming rates provided by Irish operators

Irish operator	Making a call	Receiving a call	Sending an SMS	Receiving an SMS
	€0.47	€0.18	€0.13	€0.00
	€0.47	€0.18	€0.13	€0.00
	€0.47	€0.18	€0.13	€0.00
	€0.47	€0.18	€0.13	€0.00
	€0.47	€0.18	€0.13	€0.00

Per second billing applies. Your operator may include a 30 second call set-up charge.

Where does the Eurotariff apply?

 Please note

Some mobile operators continue to have alternative roaming options available while travelling in the EU. For more information on this and other important details, please click on the appropriate link below.

3 Ireland    Meteor   O2   Vodafone

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