Irish networks fairing well on roaming charges: ComReg

The Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) today published information showing the trend of international roaming charges for the period April to September 2007.

The EU Roaming Regulation came into effect at the end of August 2007. The regulation required mobile service providers to offer all customers a “Eurotariff” with a price ceiling. This was implemented by all Irish mobile service providers on or before the required date.

The report on roaming services prices indicates that for all international calls, the average charged by Irish mobile service providers is lower than that charged by operators in other EU member states.

The price for a text message sent when roaming while at the same level as the average charged by operators in other member states is considerably higher than national texts.

ComReg has welcomed evidence of reduced costs for Irish consumers when making and receiving calls while travelling in the EU.

However, charges for date-based services including texts remain high relative to domestic rates, and calls on Irish operators to offer better value to their customers for these services.

ComReg is to publish a further report in July 2008.