EU deal to end roaming ‘rip-off’

More cuts in mobile phone roaming charges are on the way — the latest move towards reducing the gap between domestic and foreign call rates to almost nothing by 2015.

Compulsory maximum roaming rates were first imposed on mobile network operators five years ago to tackle what the EU Commission called the “roaming rip-off”.

The operators were said to be making profits of more than 200% for mobile calls made while in another EU country, and 300% or 400% for calls received.