Upload
others
View
2
Download
0
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Implementation of EU Roaming
Regulation by Irish Mobile
Companies
17th wave of Irish and EU aggregated data
(1 October 2015 to 31 March 2016)
Information Notice
Reference: ComReg 17/11
Version: Final
Date: 02/02/2017
Internal
Use Only
Implementation of EU Roaming Regulation by Irish Mobile Service Providers – 17th Wave of data – 1 October 2015 to 31 March 2016 ComReg 17/11
Page 2 of 16
Content
Section Page
1. Introduction ........................................................................................... 3
2. Key Points ............................................................................................ 4
3. Analysis of Irish Data ........................................................................... 6
4. EU Regulatory Requirements ............................................................ 12
Requirements 2007-2012 .............................................................................. 12
Requirements 2012-2014 .............................................................................. 13
5. Legal Basis ......................................................................................... 16
Implementation of EU Roaming Regulation by Irish Mobile Service Providers – 17th Wave of data – 1 October 2015 to 31 March 2016 ComReg 17/11
Page 3 of 16
1. Introduction
Background
1. The third EC Regulation on international roaming services, Regulation (EU) No.
531/2012, effective on 1 July 2012, was published on 13 June 20121. The main
provisions of this regulation, “Roaming Regulation III” are included in section 4 of
this document.
2. The Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC)
published guidelines on Roaming Regulation III in February 20132. The BEREC
Guidelines on the Roaming Regulation III present an update of the former ERG
Guidelines on the second Roaming Regulation, are designed to explain the
Regulation and are complementary to the provisions set out in the Regulations.
3. The Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No. 1203/2012 on the separate
sale of regulated retail roaming services within the European Union was published
on 14 December 2012. This lays down technical rules for the separate sale of
regulated retail roaming services. From 1 July 2014, domestic service providers
must inform their existing roaming customers about the possibility to opt for the
separate sale of roaming services.
Publication of Data
4. The collection of data for monitoring purposes by National Regulatory Authorities
(NRAs) is a requirement of the EU roaming regulations3. The Commission for
Communications Regulation (“ComReg”) was designated as the National
Regulatory Authority for this purpose by the Minister for Communications, Energy
and Natural Resources4.
5. Individual NRAs are required “to monitor developments in wholesale and retail
charges” for voice calls, SMS and data charges. BEREC coordinates the regular
data collection exercise from all NRAs. BEREC’s 17th International data roaming
report was published on 23 September 20165.
6. This is the 17th information notice published by ComReg in relation to roaming. It
spans the data collection period 1 October 2015 to 31 March 2016. Data from
previous periods are included for comparative purposes.
1 Regulation (EU) No 531/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 June 2012. 2 BoR (13) 15 - BEREC Guidelines on the Roaming Regulation (EC) No 531/2012 (Roaming
Regulation III ) (Excluding articles 3, 4 and 5 on wholesale access and separate sale of services). 3 Article 16 of Regulation (EU) No 531/2012. 4 Communications (Mobile Telephone Roaming) Regulations 2013, S.I. No. 228 of 2013. 5 BoR (16) 160 – International Roaming BEREC Benchmark Data Report: October 2015 – March 2016.
Implementation of EU Roaming Regulation by Irish Mobile Service Providers – 17th Wave of data – 1 October 2015 to 31 March 2016 ComReg 17/11
Page 4 of 16
2. Key Points
7. A comprehensive set of data was requested by all NRAs from national operators.
The following key points relate to the data collected by ComReg from Irish
operators for the periods 1 October 2015 to 31 March 2016 (Q4 2015 and Q1
2016). For comparison, the periods from 1 April 2014 to 30 September 2015 are
also included in Figures 1 - 11 of this document. Figure 12 provides information
on retail data volumes spanning Q1 2008 to Q1 2016.
Note: all prices displayed exclude VAT and are rounded to two decimal
places
Voice calls
8. Irish average retail roaming prices6 for calls made and received continue to
indicate compliance with the regulatory price ceilings, and while the prices for
calls received remained below the EU/EEA average, prices for calls made were
slightly above the EU/EEA average in the period from Q2 2014 – Q1 2016,
(Figures 1 and 2).
9. Ireland’s average price for making calls to the rest of the world (while outside the
EU/EEA) has been lower than the EU/EEA average over all of the reported
periods up to Q2 2015 and Ireland’s average price was slightly more expensive
than the EU/EEA average for Q3 2015 and Q4 2015, but Ireland’s average price
was noticeably more expensive in Q1 2016 (Figure 3). However, Ireland’s
average price for calls received from rest of the world (while outside the EU/EEA)
continued to decrease, from a high in Q4 2014, until Q4 2015. It increased again
above the EU/EEA average for calls received in Q1 2016, (Figure 4).
10. The surcharge for Ireland’s billed prices for retail “Eurotariff7” calls made has
decreased slightly (from a high of 11.6% in Q2 2015 to 11.0% in Q3 2015) before
decreasing substantially for the period of this report but it remains above the
EU/EEA average (5.5% in Q1 2016), (Figure 10). This is a reflection of the billing
practice provided for by the Regulation for calls made.8 The fluctuation is
attributed to the volume of calls made with duration of less than 30 seconds.
6 All retail prices reflect the charges applied to Irish consumers while using roaming services. 7 This is any tariff not exceeding the maximum charge provided for in Article 8 of the Roaming Regulation (Retail charges for regulated roaming calls), which a roaming provider may levy for the provision of regulated roaming calls. 8 Article 8 of the Regulation refers. While the Regulation allows for per second billing for calls received, an initial 30 seconds charge is incurred for calls made irrespective of duration. Per second billing applies thereafter for calls made. Data received from Irish operators indicates that a substantial number of calls made with their networks are less than 30 seconds which, compared to the EU/EEA average, results in a higher disparity between the prices that one would pay for actual calls compared to their billed calls.
Implementation of EU Roaming Regulation by Irish Mobile Service Providers – 17th Wave of data – 1 October 2015 to 31 March 2016 ComReg 17/11
Page 5 of 16
Text Messages (SMS)
11. The average retail price, during the reported period, for sending a text message
was slightly above the EU/EEA average price for the period of this report but it is
below the regulated cap of 6 cents, (Figure 5).
Data
12. Following the reduction of the regulated price cap in July 2013 to 45 cents and
the further reduction of the regulated price cap in July 2014 to 20 cents, Ireland’s
average Eurotariff retail data prices (€0.03 in Q4 2015 and Q1 2016) remain lower
than the EU/EEA average (€0.05 in Q1 2016), (Figure 6).
13. Volumes of retail data traffic have grown strongly over the reported periods.
Volumes for Ireland increased by 66% from Q1 2015 to Q1 2016, (Figure 12).
14. Ireland’s average aggregate wholesale price per MB of data among non-group
companies remains below the regulated price cap of 5 cents and was slightly
below the EU/EEA average for the period of this report, (Figure 9).
Implementation of EU Roaming Regulation by Irish Mobile Service Providers – 17th Wave of data – 1 October 2015 to 31 March 2016 ComReg 17/11
Page 6 of 16
3. Analysis of Irish Data
Note: All prices displayed exclude VAT and are rounded to two decimal places.
Figure 1
Ireland’s “Eurotariff” for calls made continue to remain below the regulated tariff. However, these prices
are above the EU/EEA average since Q2 2014.
Figure 2
Ireland’s “Eurotariff” for calls received are below the regulated tariff and the EU/EEA average price. This
is, in part, a reflection of favourable price tariffs in some of these countries.
€0
.21
€0
.18
€0
.17
€0
.15
€0
.16
€0
.16
€0
.15
€0
.14
€0
.20
€0
.16
€0
.14
€0
.13
€0
.14
€0
.13
€0
.12
€0
.11
€0.00
€0.05
€0.10
€0.15
€0.20
€0.25
€0.30
Q2 2014 Q3 2014 Q4 2014 Q1 2015 Q2 2015 Q3 2015 Q4 2015 Q1 2016
EU/EEA Eurotariff Average Retail Price Per Minute of Voice Calls Made (Pre and Bill Pay) - Billed Minutes
Ireland EU/EEA Average
Eurotariff ceiling price: Calls made1 July 2013 - 24c1 July 2014 - 19c
€0
.02
€0
.02
€0
.02
€0
.02
€0
.02
€0
.02
€0
.02
€0
.02
€0
.05
€0
.04
€0
.04
€0
.03
€0
.03
€0
.03
€0
.03
€0
.03
€0.00
€0.01
€0.02
€0.03
€0.04
€0.05
€0.06
€0.07
€0.08
€0.09
€0.10
Q2 2014Q3 2014Q4 2014Q1 2015Q2 2015Q3 2015Q4 2015Q1 2016
EU/EEA Eurotariff Average Retail Price Per Minute of Voice Calls Received (Pre and Bill Pay) - Billed Minutes
Ireland EU/EEA Average Eurotariff ceiling price: Calls received1 July 2013 - 7c1 July 2014 - 5c
Implementation of EU Roaming Regulation by Irish Mobile Service Providers – 17th Wave of data – 1 October 2015 to 31 March 2016 ComReg 17/11
Page 7 of 16
Figure 3
Ireland’s average price for making calls outside the EU/EEA (ROW) was marginally more expensive than
the EU/EEA average to ROW in Q4 2015 but was noticeably more expensive (+42%) in Q1 2016. ComReg
notes that the difference between Ireland and EU average prices in Q1 2016 is principally due to the
decrease in EU average price as a result of Switzerland not being included for Q1 2016 in the EU average.
Figure 4
Ireland’s average price for receiving a call from outside of the EU/EEA has continued to decrease from a
peak in Q4 2014 but is above the EU/EEA average for all reported periods except Q4 2015. However, Q1
2016 prices in Ireland increased again and were 36% more expensive than the EU/EEA average. ComReg
notes that the difference between Ireland and EU average prices in Q1 2016 is principally due to the
decrease in EU average prices as a result of Switzerland not being included for Q1 2016 in the EU average.
€1
.09
€0
.90
€0
.95
€1
.00
€0
.91
€0
.88
€0
.92
€0
.98
€1
.12
€1
.03
€1
.14
€1
.10
€1
.00
€0
.87
€0
.91
€0
.69
€0.00
€0.20
€0.40
€0.60
€0.80
€1.00
€1.20
Q2 2014 Q3 2014 Q4 2014 Q1 2015 Q2 2015 Q3 2015 Q4 2015 Q1 2016
Rest of World Average Retail Price Per Minute of Voice Calls Made (Pre and Bill Pay) - Billed Minutes
Ireland EU/EEA Average€
0.5
5
€0
.45
€0
.57
€0
.54
€0
.44
€0
.42
€0
.39
€0
.46
€0
.43
€0
.37
€0
.47
€0
.49
€0
.42
€0
.34
€0
.40
€0
.34
€0.00
€0.10
€0.20
€0.30
€0.40
€0.50
€0.60
Q2 2014 Q3 2014 Q4 2014 Q1 2015 Q2 2015 Q3 2015 Q4 2015 Q1 2016
Rest of World Average Retail Price Per Minute of Voice Calls Received (Pre and Bill Pay) - Billed Minutes
Ireland EU/EEA Average
Implementation of EU Roaming Regulation by Irish Mobile Service Providers – 17th Wave of data – 1 October 2015 to 31 March 2016 ComReg 17/11
Page 8 of 16
Figure 5
Ireland’s average price for sending a Eurotariff text message has remained below the regulated cap of 6
cents and was slightly above the EU/EEA average for the period of this report.
Figure 6
Following the introduction of a regulated price cap in July 2012 and the subsequent reductions of the cap
in July 2013 and in July 2014, the average retail price per MB of data has declined significantly in both
Ireland and the EU/EEA. Ireland’s price of €0.03 cents for Q4 2015 and Q1 2016 is below the EU/EEA
average and the regulated cap of 20 cents.
€0
.07
€0
.06
€0
.05
€0
.05
€0
.05
€0
.05
€0
.05
€0
.05
€0
.07
€0
.05
€0
.06
€0
.05
€0
.05
€0
.05
€0
.05
€0
.05
€0.00
€0.01
€0.02
€0.03
€0.04
€0.05
€0.06
€0.07
€0.08
€0.09
€0.10
Q2 2014 Q3 2014 Q4 2014 Q1 2015 Q2 2015 Q3 2015 Q4 2015 Q1 2016
EU/EEA Average Retail Price Per Euro-SMS
Ireland EU/EEA Average Euro-SMS ceiling price:1 July 2013 - 8c1 July 2014 - 6c
€0
.07
€0
.05
€0
.03
€0
.03
€0
.03
€0
.04
€0
.03
€0
.03
€0
.13
€0
.09
€0
.05
€0
.05
€0
.06
€0
.06
€0
.05
€0
.05
€0.00
€0.05
€0.10
€0.15
€0.20
€0.25
€0.30
€0.35
€0.40
€0.45
€0.50
Q2 2014 Q3 2014 Q4 2014 Q1 2015 Q2 2015 Q3 2015 Q4 2015 Q1 2016
EU/EEA Eurotariff Average Retail Price Per MB of Data (Pre and Bill Pay)
Ireland EU/EEA Average
Eurotariff ceiling price:1 July 2013 - 45c1 July 2014 - 20c
Implementation of EU Roaming Regulation by Irish Mobile Service Providers – 17th Wave of data – 1 October 2015 to 31 March 2016 ComReg 17/11
Page 9 of 16
Figure 7
Ireland’s average wholesale price per call made, has decreased in Q4 2015 and was on a par with the
EU/EEA average in Q1 2016.
Figure 8
Ireland’s wholesale price per SMS has largely remained at the same level over all of the reported periods
until it decreased in Q3 2015. However, it was on a par with the EU/EEA average for Q4 2015 and Q1 2016.
A regulated cap of 4 cents was introduced as of the 1st of July 2009 and was lowered to 2 cents in July
2013.
€0
.08
€0
.05
€0
.05
€0
.04
€0
.04
€0
.04
€0
.03
€0
.03
€0
.06
€0
.05
€0
.05
€0
.04
€0
.04
€0
.04
€0
.04
€0
.03
€0.00
€0.02
€0.04
€0.06
€0.08
€0.10
€0.12
Q2 2014 Q3 2014 Q4 2014 Q1 2015 Q2 2015 Q3 2015 Q4 2015 Q1 2016
EU/EEA Average Wholesale Price Per Minute Voice Call (Non-Group Companies)
Ireland EU/EEA AverageEurotariff ceiling price:1 July 2013 - 10c1 July 2014 - 5c
€0
.02
€0
.02
€0
.02
€0
.02
0.0
15
0.0
13
0.0
13
0.0
11
€0
.02
€0
.02
€0
.02
€0
.01
0.0
13
0.0
12
0.0
13
0.0
11
€0.00
€0.01
€0.02
€0.03
Q2 2014Q3 2014Q4 2014Q1 2015Q2 2015Q3 2015Q4 2015Q1 2016
EU/EEA Average Wholesale Price Per SMS (Non-Group Companies)
Ireland EU/EEA AverageSMS ceiling price:
1 July 2013 - 2c
Implementation of EU Roaming Regulation by Irish Mobile Service Providers – 17th Wave of data – 1 October 2015 to 31 March 2016 ComReg 17/11
Page 10 of 16
Figure 9
Following the introduction of a regulated price cap in July 2009, the average price per MB of data among
Irish mobile operators has declined significantly. Ireland’s average price per MB of data was on par with
the EU/EEA average as of Q1 2016.
Figure 109
This chart shows the retail price percentage deviation arising from operator billing on a per minute basis
as opposed to the price which would be incurred if billed on a per second basis (actual usage). The Irish
percentage deviation for calls made decreased significantly for Q4 2015 and Q1 2016 but it remains above
the EU/EEA average. This is a reflection of the billing practice provided for by the Regulation for calls
made, as Irish operator data suggests a substantial proportion of Eurotariff calls made are under the 30
seconds initial call charge. Per second billing applies thereafter.
9 Regulation (EU) 2015/2120 was published in the OJEU on 26 November 2015 amending Roaming Regulation (EU) 531/2012 to effect the abolition of retail roaming surcharges from June 2017 subject to certain criteria being adopted in the interim.
€0
.13
€0
.05
€0
.03
€0
.01
€0
.02
€0
.02
€0
.02
€0
.01
€0
.04
€0
.03
€0
.03
€0
.02
€0
.02
€0
.02
€0
.02
€0
.01
€0.00
€0.02
€0.04
€0.06
€0.08
€0.10
€0.12
€0.14
€0.16
€0.18
€0.20
Q2 2014Q3 2014Q4 2014Q1 2015Q2 2015Q3 2015Q4 2015Q1 2016
EU/EEA Average Wholesale Price Per MB of Data (Non-Group Companies)
Ireland EU/EEA Average
Eurotariff ceiling price:1 July 2013 - 15c1 July 2014 - 5c
10.9
%
10.6
%
10.8
%
11.1
%
11.6
%
11.0
%
7.6
%
7.6
%
6.8
%
5.9
%
5.8
%
5.1
%
5.5
%
5.6
%
5.3
%
5.5
%
0%
2%
4%
6%
8%
10%
12%
14%
Q2 2014 Q3 2014 Q4 2014 Q1 2015 Q2 2015 Q3 2015 Q4 2015 Q1 2016
Surcharge as a result of billed minutes for voice calls made for all consumers: Retail Eurotariff
Ireland EU/EEA AverageBilling Unitisation was introduced from 1 July 2009
Implementation of EU Roaming Regulation by Irish Mobile Service Providers – 17th Wave of data – 1 October 2015 to 31 March 2016 ComReg 17/11
Page 11 of 16
Figure 1110
This chart is similar to figure 10 but reflects pricing disparities at a wholesale level. For Ireland, the
surcharge has decreased dramatically and is significantly below the EU/EEA average from Q3 2015 and for
the periods of this report.
Figure 12
The volume of retail data on Irish mobile networks has been growing strongly over the reported periods.
Retail data volumes increased by 66% in Ireland comparing Q1 2015 to Q1 2016.
10 Regulation (EU) 2015/2120 was published in the OJEU on 26 November 2015 amending Roaming Regulation (EU) 531/2012 to effect the abolition of retail roaming surcharges from June 2017 subject to certain criteria being adopted in the interim.
5.9
%
4.4
%
4.2
%
4.1
%
3.1
%
0.6
%
0.4
%
0.4
%
4.3
% 4.3
%
3.6
%
3.4
%
3.7
%
4.0
%
3.3
%
3.5
%
0%
1%
2%
3%
4%
5%
6%
7%
Q2 2014 Q3 2014 Q4 2014 Q1 2015 Q2 2015 Q3 2015 Q4 2015 Q1 2016
Surcharge as a result of billed minutes for wholesale voice calls (Non-Group Companies)
Ireland EU/EEA Average
249 313 655 715869
1,717
3,073
5,087
183 241 375 648
1,2192,249
7,222
15,343
0
2,000
4,000
6,000
8,000
10,000
12,000
14,000
16,000
18,000
Q12008
Q12009
Q12010
Q12011
Q12012
Q12013
Q12014
Q12015
Q12016
Indexed Volumes of Retail Data (Q3 2008 = 100)
Ireland EU/EEA Total
Implementation of EU Roaming Regulation by Irish Mobile Service Providers – 17th Wave of data – 1 October 2015 to 31 March 2016 ComReg 17/11
Page 12 of 16
4. EU Regulatory Requirements
Requirements 2007-2012
Note: All prices are quoted excluding VAT
Requirements
by all mobile
operators
30 Aug
2007
30 Aug
2008
1 July
2009
1 July
2010
1 July
2011
“Eurotariff”
retail limit for
voice calls made
0.49
0.46
0.43
0.39
0.35
Per second billing applies with the option to apply a
30 second minimum charge for calls made.
“Eurotariff”
retail limit for
voice calls
received
0.24
0.22
0.19
0.15
0.11
Calls received are charged on a per second basis.
Wholesale limit
for voice calls
made
0.30
0.28
0.26
0.22
0.18
Pricing
transparency
Mobile operators to send a
free SMS to their consumers
with pricing details for
making and receiving a call
when roaming in the EU.
From 1 July 2009 the free pricing transparency SMS
will include pricing details for SMS, MMS and Data.
The SMS will also include information on how to
receive more detailed pricing information and
information on the European emergency number
112.
“Eurotariff” SMS
retail price limit
N/A
N/A
0.11
0.11
0.11
“Eurotariff” SMS
wholesale price
limit
N/A
N/A
0.04
0.04
0.04
Implementation of EU Roaming Regulation by Irish Mobile Service Providers – 17th Wave of data – 1 October 2015 to 31 March 2016 ComReg 17/11
Page 13 of 16
Requirements
by all mobile
operators
30 Aug
2007
30 Aug
2008
1 July
2009
1 July
2010
1 July
2011
Wholesale data
price limit (per
megabyte)
N/A
N/A
€1.00
0.80
0.50
Data bill shock
measures
N/A N/A N/A 1 March
2010
Ability for
consumers
to opt in to
€50.00 (ex
VAT) data
roaming
limit.
From 1 July 2010
Automatic opt in for
all consumers to
€50.00 (ex VAT)
data roaming limit.
Consumers can
choose an
alternative limit or
no limit.
Consumers will receive a warning
message when they are near to
reaching their roaming limit set for
their account. Customers cannot
use any more data when their limit
has been reached unless they give
their consent to continue data
roaming.
Voicemail
N/A
N/A
N/A
No charge to consumer to receive a
voicemail message.
Requirements 2012-2014
Main Provisions of Roaming Regulation III
Voice Calls
Wholesale price caps
The glide path will end in 2014 and the cost will remain at 0.05 cent until 30 June 2022.
Wholesale voice caps (cent per min excluding VAT)
20/8/07 30/8/09 1/7/09 1/7/10 1/7/11 1/7/12 1/7/13 1/7/14
30c 28c 26c 22c 18c 14c 10c 5c
Implementation of EU Roaming Regulation by Irish Mobile Service Providers – 17th Wave of data – 1 October 2015 to 31 March 2016 ComReg 17/11
Page 14 of 16
Retail price caps
Per second billing applies; operators may charge a 30 second minimum set-up-fee. The
glide path will end in 2014 and the cost will remain at 0.19 cent and 0.05 cent until 30
June 2017.
Retail voice caps (cent per min excluding VAT)
20/8/07 30/8/08 1/7/09 1/7/10 1/7/11 1/7/12 1/7/13 1/7/14
Calls made
49c 46c 43c 39c 35c 29c 24c 19c
Calls received
24c 22c 19c 15c 11c 8c 7c 5c
SMS
Wholesale price caps
The glide path will end in 2013 and the cost will remain at 0.02 cent until 30 June 2022.
Retail price caps
The glide path will end in 2014 and the cost will remain at 0.06 cent until 30 June 2017.
Data
Wholesale price caps
The glide path will end in 2014 and the cost will remain at 0.05 cent until 30 June 2022.
Retail price caps
The glide path will end in 2014 and the cost will remain at 0.20 cent until 30 June 2017.
Wholesale SMS caps (Cent per min excluding VAT)
1/7/09 1/7/10 1/7/11 1/7/12 1/7/13
4c 4c 4c 3c 2c
Retail SMS caps (cent per SMS excluding VAT)
1/7/09 1/7/10 1/7/11 1/7/12 1/7/13 1/7/14
11c 11c 11c 9c 8c 6c
Wholesale data caps (cent per MB excluding VAT)
1/7/09 1/7/10 1/7/11 1/7/12 1/7/13 1/7/14
€1.00 80c 50c 25c 15c 5c
Retail data caps (cent per MB excluding VAT)
1/7/12 1/7/13 1/7/14
70c 45c 20c
Implementation of EU Roaming Regulation by Irish Mobile Service Providers – 17th Wave of data – 1 October 2015 to 31 March 2016 ComReg 17/11
Page 15 of 16
More transparency of roaming charges for consumers
Consumers to receive an SMS, pop-up window, etc when they are crossing
borders within the EU and outside the EU to inform them of the price they are
expected to pay for making and receiving calls, for sending an SMS and for using
mobile internet. Blind consumers to automatically receive the transparency
message by voice call, free of charge, if requested. In addition a freephone
number for additional information when roaming must be provided and the 112
emergency access number must also be provided in the EU message.
Measures to counter data roaming bill shocks
As of 1 July 2012, travellers' data-roaming limit will be automatically set at €50.00
(excluding VAT) when they travel outside the EU (unless they have chosen
another limit – higher or lower or opted out of the limit). The data roaming limit
within the EU has been in place since 1 July 2009. Roaming providers shall send
a notification to the roaming customer’s mobile device when the data-roaming
limit has been reached. The notification shall provide information with respect to
the procedure to be followed should the customer wish to continue data roaming
and the costs associated with each additional unit to be consumed.
Other measures
Roaming providers to make information available on how to avoid inadvertent
roaming. Reasonable steps to be taken by operators to protect their consumers
from paying roaming charges while situated in their member state.
Roaming providers shall inform their customers, of the risk of automatic and
uncontrolled data roaming connection and download. Roaming providers to
provide information to their customers on how to switch off these automatic data
roaming connections in order to avoid uncontrolled consumption of data roaming
services.
Structural Measures
Structural measures will be implemented to allow consumers to contract for
roaming services with an alternative provider from 1 July 2014.
Implementation of EU Roaming Regulation by Irish Mobile Service Providers – 17th Wave of data – 1 October 2015 to 31 March 2016 ComReg 17/11
Page 16 of 16
5. Legal Basis
15. Regulation (EU) No 531/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of
13 June 2012 repealed Regulation (EC) No. 717/2007 (as amended by
Regulation (EC) No. 544/2009) with effect from 1 July 2012.
16. Regulation (EC) No. 717/2007 as amended by Regulation (EC) No. 544/2009 is
an EC Regulation. Accordingly, its requirements are directly applicable in all
Member States. In Ireland, ComReg is designated as the national supervisory
and enforcement body for the purposes of Regulation (EC) No. 717/2007 (as
amended).
17. The Communications (Mobile Telephone Roaming) Regulations 2013, S.I. No.
228 of 2013, designated the Commission for Communications Regulation
(“ComReg”) as the national regulatory authority to carry out the functions referred
to in Article 16 of the Mobile Phone Roaming Regulation (Regulation (EU) No
531/2012).
18. Article 7 of Regulation (EC) No 717/2007 requires NRAs to monitor developments
in charges and to report to the European Commission every six months. Article
7(2) requires NRAs to make up-to-date information on the application of
Regulation (EC) No 717/2007 publicly available. This Information Notice is
published for this purpose.