EU roaming rate cut to come into effect

The maximum prices for roaming services will fall by up to 45% from July 1, according to new tariffs published by the European Commission. Brussels will completely eliminate the surcharge for calls between different EU countries by December 2015.

According to the newspaper Cinco Días, the new maximum roaming prices for European territory set at 0.23 euros the maximum price per minute for outgoing calls. This is a clear reduction compared to most of the current rates. Movistar, Vodafone and Orange have so far set the price per minute for outgoing roaming calls at 0.29 euros. Yoigo is the only operator that is currently below, with a rate of 0.19 euros.

As for incoming calls, the maximum rate will be 0.06 euros per minute. So far Vodafone, Orange and Yoigo charge 0.08 euros per minute, while Movistar charges 0.09. The European Commission has set the SMS limit at 0.07 euros. Movistar, Vodafone and Orange currently offer it for 0.10 euros; and Yoigo for 0.09 euros.

The navegación móvil is the one with the biggest discount, around 45%. As of July 1, the maximum price per Mb consumed outside the country of origin will be 0.24 euros. This is a tariff well below the current offer. Movistar charges 0.55 euros per megabyte, while Vodafone and Orange charge 0.54 euros. Yoigo, for its part, charges 0.41 euros.