IF YOU THOUGHT that going on holidays meant you’d use your phone less, today’s slashing of roaming charges could change things.

It’s good news for those who need to use their phones abroad, as roaming charges for EU mobile phone users reduce further from today, including a 55 percent price cut for data downloads.

The European Commission made the announcement last month.

What the changes mean

From today, mobile phone subscribers across Europe will pay a maximum extra charge of 20c per megabyte for downloads while visiting another member country. Until today, that cost 45c.

Here’s what the roaming caps look like now:

• Making a call — 19c/min
• Receiving a call — 5c/min
• Sending a text — 6c
• Downloading data/browsing — 20c/MB

In April, the European Parliament endorsed a package of telecommunications reforms introduced by the Commission, including a move to scrap roaming fees altogether.

“By the end of this year I hope we see the complete end of roaming charges agreed,” Commissioner for the digital agenda Neelie Kroes said.

Kroes has previously said that she hopes to see the complete end of roaming charges by the end of this year.

- Additional reporting AFP

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