Consumers welcome end of mobile roaming fees with reservations

Mobile phone users are celebrating the end of roaming fees throughout most of Europe – but consumers fear loopholes may still mean extra costs.“Goodbye roaming fees” is the celebratory message from the European Commission, marking the day charges come to an end for using mobile phones when travelling throughout most of Europe.It’s the culmination of a long battle by Brussels to banish the practice of adding hefty charges when people travel abroad.The new rules cover the European Economic Area: the 28 EU countries plus Norway, Iceland and Lichtenstein.They mean that using cellphones from abroad to contact home should cost no additional money. However contacting another country from your home mobile will still be charged extra.There are also question marks over the amount of data people can consume abroad; people are advised to check with service providers. It is feared that many travellers may still face disappointment. A fragmented telecoms market has made the project hugely complex.Operators still face fees from foreign networks; dozens have reportedly applied for exemptions, legal under EU rules if companies face at least a three percent hit to revenue.German consumer groups have welcomed the new law as a huge step forward. But in Scandinavia and the Baltics it is thought that small operators may use the loophole or stop allowing consumers to use their phones abroad at all. Brexit means the United Kingdom’s future participation in the scheme is also in doubt.