Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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In 2015, the European Council and Parliament adopted Regulation 2015/2120, which requires retail roaming surcharges to be abolished in the European Union from June 2017, subject to fair usage.  Ireland played an active part in negotiating the Regulation and fully supports the implementation of the principle of “Roam like at Home” (RLAH).

The concept of fair usage was introduced to prevent so-called “permanent roaming”, i.e. living in one EU Member State and permanently using a mobile phone and data service from another.  Under the Regulation the European Commission was tasked with reviewing the wholesale roaming markets and making appropriate proposals to enable the abolition of retail roaming surcharges, including defining “fair usage”.

The European Commission published its draft proposals regarding “fair usage” in early September, which included capping usage at 30 consecutive days and 90 days total per year. However, these proposals were subsequently withdrawn by the Commission, to be replaced by new proposals (expected to be published shortly) which, rather than focussing on the amount of days travelled, will link the ability to enjoy RLAH to the residence or frequent and substantial presence in the Member State of the roaming provider. This will aim to prevent systematic, commercial abuses of RLAH, and to balance the ambition for RLAH with the need to ensure continuing investments in networks in individual Member States.  

Officials in my Department are now actively engaged in examining these upcoming proposals and will be engaging with industry on the matter. It is expected that the original EU target of June 2017 will be met.