Brussels, 17/02/2014 (Agence Europe) - Europeans are still not very keen on using their mobile phones when travelling to another European Union country. The figures are particularly damning when it comes to mobile internet use. These revelations were published on 17 February by the European Commission in a Eurobarometer survey on the subject. Commissioner for the Digital Agenda Neelie Kroes believes that prices are still too high and telecommunications operators are penalising consumers as well as themselves by missing out on a constantly expanding market. She says that she is as determined as ever to pursue her ultimate objective of getting rid of all roaming prices as previously adopted rules reducing prices have had a positive impact: “I am honestly shocked by these figures. It shows we have to finish the job and eliminate roaming charges… Roaming makes no sense in a single market”.
At the same time as use of mobile services, especially use of mobile data is booming in member states, operators' roaming prices are still having a negative impact on consumer practices. According to the survey: 1) 47% would never use mobile internet in another EU country and only 5% use social networks; 2) only 1 out of 10 would use e-mails in the same way as at home; 3) 28% of us simply switch off our mobiles when we travel in the EU; 4) millions divert to SMS rather than pay for calls: 3 out of 10 people never telephone when they are travelling in another member state and 1 in 4 never sends an SMS; 5) even when they are in their own country, 70% of people telephoning other EU countries limit their calls because of the cost.
The Commission calculates that telecoms companies are missing out on a market of around 300 million phone users because of current pricing strategies, with negative effects for other businesses, such as mobile app makers. At the same time, thanks to existing roaming regulations and due lower prices, we have seen an astonishing 1500% increase in data roaming use across the EU since 2008. Since then consumers have seen 80% retail price reductions across calls and SMS data roaming is now up to 91% cheaper. The Commission regrets that, given that at home the overall uptake and enjoyment of mobile data services is also increasing, the fact that many users are restricting themselves underlines a worrying trend towards a missed growth opportunity in the emerging app economy as well as for mobile operators. These figures confirm the determination of the Commission to continue with its aim of reducing roaming prices. It should be pointed out that the Commission's proposal in the Connected Continent package calls for these tariffs to be aligned on national prices by 2016 at the latest. (IL/transl.fl)