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EU Free Data Roaming, Net Neutrality Plans In Jeopardy

Posted by timothy on from the can't-we-all-just-not-get-along? dept.

An anonymous reader writes EU free data roaming and net neutrality plans now look like they are in doubt as European regulators have dropped plans to ban roaming charges and have proposed net neutrality rules allowing privileged access in some cases. This comes as a U-turn of plans [compared to] 2014, when EU MEPs voted to scrap mobile roaming fees in Europe by 15th December 2015, with the proposal orginally covered on Slashdot in 2010."

12 of 71 comments (clear)

  1. Free roaming sounds nice... by danbob999 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    But when you think about it, what would stop a provider with a single antenna in say, Andorra or Vatican, to offer unlimited plans at Euro 5/month and free ride on providers with real network coverage?

    1. Re:Free roaming sounds nice... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      There's indeed all kind of commercial issues. No-one will disagree on that.

      Yet, daily practices are very strange pricing schemes with all EU telco's. Where calling mobile may be cheaper than land line. But roaming is indeed a very practical issue for anyone crossing a border, and getting charged over 2 euro for 1 megabyte of data is more the rule than the exception.
      Smarter users avoid getting unexpected bills using pre-pay plans. But on average, _everyone_ is being ripped of left or right. There are no fair plans. It's hard to find a,say, 100 euro true unlimited plan. It's hard to find roaming at normal prices. It _does_ exist though, it you search. But as said, most providers will just rip you off whenever they find a chance.

      More legally - this shows how the EU has sometimes embarrassing little power. The EU parliament votes. The joining countries overrule. They just use 'EU' as excuse when convenient, and ignore as soon they please too, which often leads to schizophrenic state politics. This is just a symptom.

      Concluding: the EU parliament chooses the most ethical-correct choice. The members of the EU choose to ignore it for, mostly, commercial reasons.

    2. Re:Free roaming sounds nice... by Registered+Coward+v2 · · Score: 2

      There's indeed all kind of commercial issues. No-one will disagree on that.

      Yet, daily practices are very strange pricing schemes with all EU telco's. Where calling mobile may be cheaper than land line. But roaming is indeed a very practical issue for anyone crossing a border, and getting charged over 2 euro for 1 megabyte of data is more the rule than the exception. Smarter users avoid getting unexpected bills using pre-pay plans. But on average, _everyone_ is being ripped of left or right. There are no fair plans. It's hard to find a,say, 100 euro true unlimited plan. It's hard to find roaming at normal prices. It _does_ exist though, it you search. But as said, most providers will just rip you off whenever they find a chance.

      It is interesting to see how the EU and USA mobile markets evolved differently, which I attribute in part to the different cultural identity in the two places. US Companies see themselevs as US companies and so it was natural for them to dvelop a US network acrosss the entire country. The EU companies were more likly to seethemselves as French or German as were regulators in those countries who would protrct them from foriegn competition. As aresultyou have a very localized network rather than an EU wide network.

      More legally - this shows how the EU has sometimes embarrassing little power. The EU parliament votes. The joining countries overrule. They just use 'EU' as excuse when convenient, and ignore as soon they please too, which often leads to schizophrenic state politics. This is just a symptom.

      Concluding: the EU parliament chooses the most ethical-correct choice. The members of the EU choose to ignore it for, mostly, commercial reasons.

      The EU is learning ehat the US learned right after the American War. A confederation does not work to create a single political or social entity.

      --
      I'm a consultant - I convert gibberish into cash-flow.
    3. Re:Free roaming sounds nice... by danbob999 · · Score: 3, Informative

      You could use the same argument within a single country. The average person only needs coverage in his home city, right? Why would roaming across France be free when you live in Paris?

  2. Not a U-Turn by SuperKendall · · Score: 2

    The bait is always something tasty, until you feel the hook... and find the bait that tempted you wasn't even real.

    --
    "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
  3. Ok, there's only two questions to ask by Opportunist · · Score: 3, Insightful

    How much?
    and
    What MEPs?

    --
    We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  4. It is Oettinger now. What did you expect? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    This is what happens when Günther Oettinger, a really awful Energy Commissioner from the Barroso times, replaces Neelies Kroes (and Viviane Reding before her) as Commissioner for Digital Economy, both political heavyweights that showed, again and again, that they were willing to fight entrenched interests.

    1. Re:It is Oettinger now. What did you expect? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Indeed, I was looking forward to the free roaming. I live near a border and have to disable roaming because I'm often in the neighboring country. It's a joke to be forced to live without a cell phone in the second decade of the 21th century. But I'm not a rich person who can afford the extra 600-700 euros a month just to please the mobile provider.

      Europe is only free for the free move of capital, no problem there. It's easy to avoid taxes for the wealthy, and the normal middle class can't profit, it's a double win.

      There is also a free move of cheap labors. Big companies are happy with cheap self employed eastern European labors who are not protected by the same social laws as the local middle class. So a law that favors the wealthy, and hurts the middle class? Again a double win!

    2. Re:It is Oettinger now. What did you expect? by Harlequin80 · · Score: 2

      Buy a dual sim mobile. I have one because I have to do a lot of overseas travelling. But for you sitting on a border like that dual sim makes a huge amount of sense.

  5. Re:Not a U-Turn at ALL by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

    The actual rules are only eight pages. The rest is legal justification if the rules are litigated (go to 1:50 in the video):

    Wheeler Interviewed At MWC

  6. nike air max pas cher formateurs France by cenyajung · · Score: 2

    This will focus the attention of the previous vendors and price breaks will follow. Make sure that you establish return privileges. In that way you can sell additional products in your store Nike Free Run , safe in the knowledge that if they do not sell you simply return them and don't lose a cent. Tip four: get your family involved. If they'll help out during the first few crucial months of operation, you might be able to get a better handle on upcoming payroll expenses. Furthermore, trained family members would be available to step in during times of vacation or sickness, etc. Tip five: review the records and highlight any under-performing products. You may find that certain items outsell others by 2 to 1. Swap out slow selling items with new products and displays during your first few months to test the market. Whilst some items may be slow sellers, remember that you should not gamble too much with your products and displays as you are trying to promote a "convenience" store and people do look for all kinds of odds and ends. Whilst some items simply do not sell enough they need to be there from an overall perspective. Always test to see what sells well. Tip six: implement proven strategies to help boost sales. For instance, place a coupon display right next to the pumps or position hot selling products in readily accessible locations, such as right next to the front doors. Think of what is popular on a seasonal basis - like cooling drinks, which should be placed right inside the front door. Create strategies for some of your top selling products and reap dividends in your balance sheet.

  7. Re:Prove your claims. by Anne+Thwacks · · Score: 2
    As it is the same telcos providing the service in all countries, why are there any additional costs?

    There is no reason on earth why calling from France Telecom in London to France Telecom in Paris costs more than France telecom in London to France Telecom in Manchester (Or Deutche Telecom for that matter).

    In the case of Hutchinson 3G (a Hongkong company) IT ALREADY DOESNT!

    What you see here is "we have the technology to fleece you" being optimised.

    --
    Sent from my ASR33 using ASCII