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”Roam like at home”: How Much Does a User Pay for Data Roaming?
15.06.2017
Starting today, 15 June 2017, data (mobile internet - MB/GB) consumed while roaming in the EU member countries, as well as in Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein (EEA) will be deducted from the domestic volumes included in subscriptions or extra-options, as provided by the ”Roam like at home” mechanism. After exceeding these volumes, data roaming consumption will be charged similarly to data consumption while in Romania.
Nevertheless, providers may define minimum fair use limits for the data services, which may be higher or lower than the domestic allowance included in the subscription/(extra)option, based on its price. This limit will be fixed, irrespective of the domestic data volume consumed before roaming.
Where a provider does not establish a fair use policy (FUP) limit for data roaming in the EU/EEA, such roaming consumption will be charged similarly to data consumption while in Romania.
For prospective travellers to EU countries who want to find the volume of MB or GB they can consume while roaming - within the FUP limits -, ANCOM developed an application, available here.
FUP limits for mobile data roaming (EU/EEA)
a) on tariff plans (prepaid cards, subscriptions, (extra)options) with open data bundles, - may they include open data, or provide for a per-GB tariff below 7.7 Euro (VAT not included) -, the users can consume the following data volume, under the “Roam like at home” mechanism:
retail price for mobile services over a billing period (VAT not included)
2 x 7.7 Euro/GB
b) on prepaid cards with no data included (pay-per-unit, per-MB/GB), the users can consume the following data volume under the “Roam like at home” mechanism (as a user pays from the available credit, the FUP limit will go down):
the credit still on the prepaid card at the commencement of EU/EEA roaming
 |
7.7 Euro
The lower limits will increase on an annual basis, starting from 1 January 2018, following reduction in the regulated price per GB.
Further details on the manner of applying FUP limits on data roaming (EU/EEA), including pricing models, are available on ANCOM’s website, here.
Charging mobile data roaming (EU/EEA)
After this limit, providers may apply an additional charge amounting up to 7.7 Euro/GB (0.0077 Euro/MB), VAT not included, during 15 June – 31 December 2017. Starting from 2018, the upper limit of the charge will be lowered every year, until 2022.
Data will be charged as follows:
a) up to the FUP limit, the domestic tariff will be applied, as follows:
- up to the consumption of the domestic traffic volume included: the consumed data will be deducted from it
- after the consumption of the domestic data traffic volume: domestic tariffs will apply
b) after exceeding the FUP limit, an additional tariff will be charged, as follows:
- up to the consumption of the domestic traffic volume included: the consumed data will be deducted from it + an additional tariff will be charged
- after the consumption of the domestic data traffic volume: domestic tariffs will apply + an additional tariff will be charged (the resulting amount cannot exceed 0.20 euro/MB)
Warning! Providers must notify their users when they reach the FUP limit of data roaming (EU/EEA) usage, indicating the amount of the additional tariff to be charged for additional data roaming consumption.
”Roam like at home” data limit calculator: an ANCOM application
For helping the users to find the FUP limit for the data they can consume while roaming in the EU/EEA, ANCOM developed a widget application, available here.
This application generates relevant results, where the providers do not apply a sustainability charge on the users. Currently, ANCOM is analysing a request for authorizing such an additional charge, submitted by RCS & RDS S.A.. The analysis conclusions will be made publicly available as soon as it has been completed and communicated to the operator.
Warning! If the roaming service has been activated, the basic principle of ”Roam like at home” provides that the whole domestic allowance included in the tariff plan (including extra-options or bonuses) should be available also while roaming in the EU/EEA.
Further information on ”Roam like at home” is available in the dedicated section on the ANCOM website, here.
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