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Roam like at home – from 1 January 2018, higher volume caps for surcharge-free data consumption while roaming in the EU/SEE

20.12.2017
 
 
 

Starting from 1 January 2018, following the decrease in the regulated wholesale tariff, the data volume (MB/GB) that can be consumed while roaming in the EU/SEE[1] without having to pay any surcharges will increase for most of the tariff plans.

Furthermore, if the limits for the fair use of roaming services in the EU/EEA (FUP limits) are exceeded, the surcharges that could be levied for subsequent consumption go down as follows:

- from 1 January 2018, the data surcharge drops by 22%, from 7.7 to 6 euros/GB;

- from 3 January 2018, the surcharge for calls received decreases by 16%, from 1.08 to 0.91 eurocents/minute.

Situations when data roaming surcharges are levied

Starting from 15 June 2017, the data volume (mobile Internet - MB/GB) consumed while roaming in the EU/SEE is basically charged the same tariffs as in Romania. However, for most of the tariff plans, the providers may set a data volume that can be consumed while roaming in the EU/SEE without any surcharges within a billing period (FUP limit). From 1 January 2018, the FUP limit will increase by approximately 22% compared to the one applied between 15 June and 31 December 2017.

After exceeding the FUP limit, the providers may levy a surcharge, even if the included traffic has not been fully exhausted. Currently, the surcharge is up to 7.7 euros/GB (0.77 eurocents/MB), but - from 1 January 2018 - it will drop to a maximum of 6 euros/GB (0.6 eurocents/MB), VAT not included.

FUP limit while roaming in EU/SEE starting from 1 January 2018

a)    on open data bundles (prepaid cards, subscriptions, add-ons), and on tariff plans for which the per-GB tariff is less than 6 Euro (VAT not included), the users can consume a data roaming volume – in GB – in the SEE, with no surcharges, calculated as follows:

 

                                   retail price for mobile services, per billing period (VAT not included)

                  2 x      

                                                                        6 euros

                                                                         

 

b)    on prepaid cards without a data allowance (pay per unit or per MB/GB), the users can consume a data roaming volume – in GB –, in the SEE, with no surcharges, calculated as follows (while the users pay as they go, the FUP limit does down):

 

                                   amount of remaining pre-paid credit at entry in UE/SEE roaming

                                    

                                                                       6 euros            

 

Further details on the manner of applying data roaming fair use limits (in EU/SEE), including calculation models, are available on ANCOM’s website, here.

"Roam like at home” FUP limit calculator: an ANCOM application

For the users’ easier estimation of the FUP data roaming limit in the EU/SEE, ANCOM has developed a widget application, available here. The widget, currently using the 7.7 euro/GB tariff in force until the end of 2017, will be updated to the 6 Euro/GB tariff, starting from 1 January 2018. The widget generates relevant results for all the users of tariff plans with roaming access, excepting those of RCS&RDS S.A., an operator authorised to levy roaming surcharges from the first consumption unit.

Further information on “Roam like at home” are available in the dedicated section on ANCOM’s website, here.



[1] SEE = EU + Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein