European Union extends ban on mobile roaming fees by 10 years

The European UniononMonday extended for another 10 years itsbanonmobilephoneroamingsurcharges for people using their European handsets while travelling in the 27-nation bloc.

The "roam like at home" scheme is one of the more popular pieces of legislation forEUcitizens and residents, allowing them to make calls and texts and use data in otherEUcountries at the same price as that charged in their domestic plans.

The European Council representing theEU's member states said it gave final approval to extend the scheme beyond when the current regulation expires at the end of June.

It will now continue until 2032.

The European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) noted in a statement that the renewed policy requires telecom operators to strive to giveroamingat the same quality, meaningEUvisitors not being shunted to lower speed 3G or 4G networks when higher speed ones are available.

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BEUC's deputy director-general Ursula Pachl called the extended policy "one of theEU's greatest success stories for consumers" and one of the "tangible benefits" of its single market.

Many consumers in Britain, which left the European Union two years ago, are seeingroamingcharges return.

At least three big British telecom operators decided to bring back addedroamingfees, which average an extra two pounds (2.40 euros, $2.60) per day for those visiting theEU.