Lower mobile roaming tariffs start today

As of today 1 July, subscribers on the 'Eurotariff' plan using mobile roaming services whilst travelling within the EU will enjoy lower mobile roaming charges as indicated in the following table.

The Malta Communications Authority has advised subscribers to check with their service provider whether they are in fact on the 'Eurotariff' plan. If subscribers are not on the 'Eurotariff' plan, they should ensure that their alternative plan offers a better deal than the 'Eurotariff'. Subscribers can opt for the 'Eurotariff' at any time, even whilst abroad, at no cost.

International roaming allows mobile subscribers to use mobile services whilst abroad. In June 2007, the European Union (EU) adopted a Regulation that places a limit on the cost of making and receiving calls on mobile phones while travelling within the 27 EU Member States, called the 'Eurotariff' so as to ensure that subscribers do not pay excessive prices when making and receiving calls when abroad.

In the amended 2009 Regulation, additional rules were introduced in favour of subscribers, such as, the introduction of even lower tariffs for calls made and received, the introduction of price limits on the costs of sending SMSs while roaming, called the 'EuroSMS tariff', as well as a 'cut-off' mechanism on data services.

Data services are capped at a maximum of €50 excluding VAT unless subscribers would have agreed to a different limit with the service provider. Subscribers will be alerted free of charge upon reaching 80% of this limit. When the full limit is reached, the data service will automatically be stopped unless subscribers ask their respective service provider to extend this limit. 

The 'Eurotariffs' have progressively been revised downwards as from 2007 and will continue on this trend in 2014. Consequently, we have seen a consistent increase in the number of roaming minutes, both from Maltese subscribers travelling in the EU, as well as from foreign subscribers using mobile services whilst in Malta, as highlighted in the following tables.