‘Roam like at Home’: Enhancing connectivity in Europe

For the past decade, the European Union has been working towards the goal of reducing the surcharges telecoms operators in a member state impose on their customers whenever they use their mobile phones in other EU member states. The idea is to improve the digital services enjoyed by Europeans, while also increasing connectivity between member states.

In 2015, an important step was taken in this regard when the European Parliament and the Council agreed to bring roaming charges to an end by June 2017. The aim was to ensure that EU citizens pay domestic prices throughout all the member states they travel to. This mechanism is known as Roam like at home.

The abolition of roaming charges greatly complements the principles of freedom enshrined in the Single Market, mainly because it would allow people to travel between member states while staying connected more frequently without fear of additional charges being imposed due to their time abroad. Additionally, the mechanism would allow people to retain access to the benefits they enjoy through their operator, such as monthly data packages.

However, while the European Commission’s 2015 proposal had an important impact on increasing the connectivity between EU member states, a few days ago, the Commission discussed draft rules aimed to avoid abuses of the end of roaming charges in time for June 2017 and ensuring that the overall approach is fair to both mobile users and telecom operators.

The new draft proposals would ensure that operators have the right tools in hand as a means of protection against abuse. In cases of abuse, operators would be allowed to apply surcharges. Cases may include insignificant domestic traffic when compared to roaming traffic, long inactivity of SIM cards being used mostly for roaming and the use of multiple SIM cards by the same user while roaming.

Operators would also be protected in cases of drastic changes in domestic markets, particularly high increases in prices. If such cases prove to negatively impact domestic users, then operators would be allowed to temporarily withdraw from the Roam like at home mechanism and apply surcharges.

The member states will now examine the draft rules in the Communications Committee (COCOM), and the Body of European Regulators in Electronic Communications (BEREC) will provide its opinion on the proposal to the European Commission. Following these discussions, the College of Commissioners is due to adopt the implementing act by 15 December – in time to end roaming charges for consumers who travel in the EU as of 15 June 2017.

The revision of the roaming mechanism is not the only initiative currently underway to address European digital connectivity. During his recent State of the EU (SOTEU) speech to the European Parliament, Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker announced that the European Commission will also be working towards fully deploying a 5G mobile network across the entire EU by 2025.

In addition to this, the Commission’s aim is also to ensure that all member states provide free wi-fi access in public spaces by 2020. This would ensure that investment in connectivity would benefit everyone across the EU and not just those who can afford to pay domestic mobile network charges.

In Malta, one operator has already taken steps to abolish its roaming charges, thereby allowing its users to benefit before the June 2017 deadline. In addition to this, various public spaces across the country already enjoy free wi-fi.

A more connected Europe leads to a stronger and more united EU and to greater solidarity among European citizens across the EU28. The abolition of roaming charges, coupled with the rolling out of 5G networks as well as free public wireless networks will ensure that European connectivity continues to grow. It is a practical way for the EU to minimise the digital borders which hinder European connectivity, thereby continuing to strengthen the freedom of movement enjoyed by all EU citizens. Mark Abdilla is an executive within Meusac