News
Amended Roaming Regulation in place from 1 July 2012.
3rd July 2012
The Roaming Regulation was proposed in 2006 by the European Commission following concerns expressed by National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs) through the European Regulators Group (ERG) that the 2002 Regulatory Framework prevented regulators from adequately addressing the issue of high roaming charges. The Roaming Regulation came into effect on 29 June 2007 - (EC) No 717/2007. The Regulation placed a retail and wholesale price cap known as the “Eurotariff” on roaming calls while roaming in the European Union. It also placed a number of transparency measures helping to ensure that consumers are well informed in relation to roaming in the EU. In addition the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources made Regulations in 2007 designating ComReg as the National Regulatory authority for the purpose of the roaming Regulations.
In 2009 the roaming Regulation was amended in scope and duration following a review. The amended roaming Regulation - (EC) No 544 of 2009 included further reductions to the wholesale and retail “Eurotariff” (voice calls), the introduction of a wholesale and retail Euro SMS price cap, a wholesale data price cap and a number of new measures in relation to pricing transparency were introduced.
The roaming Regulation underwent another review in 2011/2012, the amended roaming Regulation is in place from 1 July 2012.
Main requirements of the roaming Regulation are set out below:
• Voice price cap - 1 July 2012, calls made 35.67cent/calls received 9.84cent (including VAT)
• SMS price cap - 1 July 2012, 11.07cent (including VAT)
• Data price cap - 1 July 2012 (new) , 86.10cent (including VAT)
Note: Some mobile operators provide alternative roaming plans/bundles when roaming in the EU or outside the EU that may be more beneficial to your particular requirements when roaming. If you have chosen an alternative package the “Eurotariff” rates will not apply.
• Transparency SMS - When a consumer travels in the EU they must receive an SMS from their mobile operator advising the consumer of the costs of roaming in the EU, this includes the cost of calls made and received, the cost of sending an SMS/MMS, the cost per Megabyte (MB) of data, details in relation to how to find out more information if required (freephone number) and details on the European emergency number 112.
• Data Usage Alert - A consumer who data roams is automatically opted into a data cap/alert of €61.50 including VAT/unless they have requested not to receive the usage alert. A consumer will be advised when they reach 80% of the data usage cap and at 100 % of the data usage cap. The consumer can then decide to continue to data roam or not. The alert is provided to ensure that consumers do not incur high data roaming charges while travelling.
o From 1 July 2012 consumers who travel outside the EU should now also receive this data usage alert while travelling. If the operator is unable to send the alert due to the network provider in another country the consumer should receive an SMS from the operator advising the consumer that the operator cannot apply the data usage alert in that country.
Data Roaming/Using the internet on your mobile phone/laptop when abroad
Irish consumers are using the internet more and more on their mobile phone, smartphone or laptop when they are abroad. Consumers should be aware that the costs of using the internet from their mobile phone/laptop when roaming can be very expensive. The majority of operators offer daily/monthly data roaming plans that may save you money when roaming. If you have not signed up for a particular package you will be charged a standard rate of 80.10cent per megabyte when data roaming in the EU.
If a consumer has a Smartphone, they should be aware that applications (Apps) may use data even when the consumer is not interacting with the application. Consumers should contact their mobile phone supplier to find out information on how to manage data on their handset (mobile phone), including;
• how to monitor data usage (on the handset)
• how to switch on and off data on their handset (also to enquire if data settings reset automatically)
• how to use WIFI connections.
Note: prices displayed below exclude VAT at 23%
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Mobile roaming requirements
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30 Aug 2007
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30 Aug
2008
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1 July
2009
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1 July
2010
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1 July
2011
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1 July 2012
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“Eurotariff” retail limit for voice calls made
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0.49c
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0.46c
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0.43c
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0.39c
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0.35c
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0.29c
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Per second billing applies with the option to apply a 30 second minimum charge for calls made.
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“Eurotariff” retail limit for voice calls received
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0.24c
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0.22c
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0.19c
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0.15c
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0.11c
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0.08c
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Calls received are charged on a per second basis.
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||||||
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Wholesale limit for voice calls made
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0.30c
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0.28c
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0.26c
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0.22c
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0.18c
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0.14c
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Pricing transparency
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From 30 Aug 2007 mobile operators to send a free SMS to their consumers with pricing details for making and receiving a call when roaming in the EU.
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From 1 July 2009 the free pricing transparency SMS will include pricing details for SMS, MMS and Data. The SMS will also include information on how to receive more detailed pricing information (freephone number) and information on the European emergency number 112.
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“Eurotariff” SMS retail price limit
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N/A
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N/A
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0.11c
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0.11c
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0.11c
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0.09c
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“Eurotariff” SMS wholesale price limit
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N/A
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N/A
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0.04c
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0.04c
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0.04c
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0.03c
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Wholesale data price limit (per megabyte)
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N/A
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N/A
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€1.00
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0.80c
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0.50c
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0.25c
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Retail data
price limit (per megabyte)
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N/A
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N/A
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N/A
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N/A
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N/A
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0.70c
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Data bill shock measures
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N/A
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N/A
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N/A
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From 1 July 2010 automatic opt in for all consumers to €50.00 (ex VAT) data roaming cap. Consumers can choose an alternative limit (if their mobile operator has set other limits) or no limit. Consumers will receive a warning message when they are near to reaching the data roaming cap (80%). Customers cannot use any more data when they reach the data cap limit (100%) - €60.50 including VAT unless they give their consent to continue data roaming. Consumers can opt out of the cap if they do not wish to have the data cap applied to their account.
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From 1 July 2012 the
data roaming cap is extended to outside the EU. If an operator cannot provide the data roaming cap in any country outside of the EU due to an issue with their roaming provider in that counrty, the consumer must receive an SMS to advise that they cannot apply the cap.
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Voicemail
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N/A
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N/A
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N/A
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From 1 July 2010 no charge to consumer to receive a voicemail message.
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