LONDON: Cuts in mobile phone roaming charges are on the way this summer — the latest move by the European commission towards reducing the gap between domestic and foreign call rates almost to zero by 2015, with the rates protected until June 2017.

The cost of data services on smartphones will be capped at EUR0.70 a megabyte, far less than most carriers in the EU charge. Prices on voice calls will also be capped, falling from EUR0.35 to EUR0.29 in July and EUR0.19 in 2014. Text message prices will fall from EUR0.11 to EUR0.6.

Maximum rates were first imposed on mobile network operators five years ago to tackle what the commission called the “roaming rip-off”.  Operators were said to be making excessive profits by charging more than triple the normal rate for calls made while in another EU country, and up to five times for calls received.

By arrangement with the Guardian