International roaming is a service offered by mobile operators to allow subscribers to use mobile services whilst abroad.
In June 2007, the European Union (EU) adopted a Regulation that places a limit on the cost of making and receiving calls on mobile phones while travelling within the 27 EU Member States, called the ‘Eurotariff’ so as to ensure that subscribers do not pay excessive prices for roaming services when making and receiving calls when abroad.
In the amended 2009 Regulation, additional rules were introduced in favour of subscribers, such as, the introduction of even lower tariffs for calls made and received, the introduction of price limits on the costs of sending SMSs while roaming, called the ‘EuroSMS tariff’, as well as a ‘cut-off’ mechanism on data services.
As from the 1st of July 2013, the roaming regulations require that the cost for making a call while roaming in an EU country will be reduced from 35c3 to 29c2 (inc taxes) whilst the cost for receiving a call while roaming in an EU country will be reduced from €9c7 to €8c5 (inc taxes). When roaming in an EU country sending an SMS will now cost no more than €9c7 (inc taxes) and data usage will be charged at a maximum rate of 54c7 per megabyte.
Several transparency measures were also introduced to ensure that subscribers are adequately informed on roaming charges for calls, SMSs and the use of data services and regularly updated with any change to these charges.
For further information on subscriber rights and obligations while roaming in an EU country click here http://www.mca.org.mt/consumer/notices-and-announcements/say-hello-lower-mobile-roaming-charges.