In accordance with the provisions in force, starting 1 July 2010, the mobile telephony operators will apply a default limit system (i.e. financial or volume limits of at most EUR 50 / month, excluding VAT) to the end-users who did not opt for one of the maximum limits proposed by operators for the use of the data communications services while roaming. When the established limit is reached, the operators will suspend the data communications services while roaming for the users who did not specify that they wish to be further provided with this service.
With the entry into force of the European regulations on roaming, the operators of mobile communications services must comply with a series of additional obligations with a view to safeguard the interests of the users of data roaming services. Thus, the operators must ensure to the European users employing data communications services while roaming on the European Union’s territory the facility to suspend the access to such services when reaching a certain either a financial or a volume limit for the data traffic, in order to enable the users to not exceed the estimated expenses and protect them from bill shocks at the end of the month.
Starting 1 July 2010, the operators will apply the default limit system established by the European regulations to the users of data roaming services who did not choose another limit by this date, as follows: either a financial limit of maximum EUR 50 / month (VAT not included) or a volume limit whose value will not exceed EUR 50 / month (VAT not included). The users may require the operators to change the default financial limit or, as the case may be, to remove it.
“By establishing a limit system for the data roaming services we ensure a greater transparency and a better protection for the users, thus limiting the risks of automatic and uncontrollable connection and download of roaming data. In addition, we advise all mobile telephony users who are on Romania’s territory, but close to the border, to pay attention to their handsets so as to prevent them from automatically connecting to the network of the neighbouring country and paying roaming tariffs for telephone conversations or data transfers”, Catalin Marinescu, the President of ANCOM, stated.
On grounds of the European Commission’s regulations, from 1 March 2010, the users of data roaming services are able to opt deliberately and free of charge for a financial or a volume limit over a specified period of time, as well as for a service whereby they are provided with information on the accumulated consumption for the data roaming services. This facility ensures the users of mobile telephone roaming services that the Internet access will be automatically locked upon reaching the specified limit for the data roaming services.
When they are close to reaching the respective limit, a warning notification is sent to the roaming user’s mobile telephone or other device (by an SMS, an e-mail, a pop-up window on the computer screen etc.). When the limit is exceeded, the users receive another notification indicating them the procedure to be followed if they wish to continue the provision of the respective services, as well as the costs associated to each additional unit to be consumed. If the user of the roaming service does not respond as prompted in the notification received, the home provider will instantly cease to provide and charge the roaming users for data roaming services, except for the case when the user requests the continued or renewed provision of the respective services.
In June 2010, the basic tariffs charged by the operators from Romania for the data roaming services, within the European Union, ranged between EUR 2 and 5 per megabyte (excluding VAT).
Furthermore, from 1 July 2010, the users who opted for the Eurotariff package will benefit from a decrease of the maximum value of the tariffs charged for the outgoing roaming calls (from 0.43 to EUR 0.39 /minute, excluding VAT), respectively of the maximum value of the tariffs charged for the incoming roaming calls (from 0.19 to EUR 0.15 /minute, excluding VAT).
The National Authority for Management and Regulations in Communications will monitor the enforcement of the European regulations on the implementation of the mechanisms meant to protect the users of data roaming services with the introduction of the default limit. Further information on the roaming service, data roaming services, regulations and charging methods is available on the ANCOM website, here.