Latest news on EU roaming and termination rates

The European Commission has published the first findings of its consultation on technical measures related to the end of retail roaming charges in the European Union. A comprehensive report will be published in due course, the Commission says in a press statement. The information gathered will ultimately feed into the Commission’s wholesale roaming review which the Commission is preparing under Article 19 of the amended EU Roaming Regulation. By 15 June 2016 the Commission will have to present its legislative proposals, while by 15 December it will have to adopt the implementing acts on fair use and sustainability (Article 6d(1) EU Roaming Regulation). The end of retail roaming charges is foreseen for June next year, provided that the Commission finds a way “to amend the wholesale charges for regulated roaming services (…) or to provide for another solution to address the issues identified at wholesale level with a view to abolishing retail roaming surcharges”.

Furthermore, the EC has opened an in-depth investigation into the proposal of the Austrian Telecoms Regulator (RTR) to allow national operators to charge different fixed and mobile termination rates based on where the call originates from. The Commission has three months to discuss the case with the RTR. At the end of this period, the European executive will have to decide either to close the case or to issue a Recommendation under the Electronic Communications Framework Directive asking the RTR to withdraw or amend the proposal.