Majority of EU operators ‘Roam like at home’ not feasible without changes to wholesale regulations
A summary report released by the European Commission shows operators concerns on the data roaming costs.
The European commission opened a public consultation on the review of the national wholesale roaming markets, fair usage policy, and sustainability mechanisms. Closing in February this report consolidates the responses from the 92 respondents hailing from 25 EU countries and Norway and various sectors which included the majority of mobile network operators.
The responses were divided between larger footprint Mobile Network Organisations finding the competitiveness of the roaming market largely agreeable against the smaller Virtual Network Organisations stating that the wholesale prices available to them are above the currently regulated cap and they are unable to cover their costs.
Overall, however, there was a general support for the roam like at home initiative despite the discourse around pricing with some even wishing to extend its applicability to voice as well as data. Having reviewed the submissions, the European council will now use this feedback to form and amend the future legislation around the roam like at home scheme so that it has the best chance of making it through the various legislature processes in time to be enacted by the June 2017 deadline the commission set.
You can read the full report here and if you wish to discuss roaming in the EU or further afield you can contact us This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..