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ShareBEREC's Preliminary Findings on RLAH and its impact
On 3 April 2014, the European Parliament (EP) adopted a legislative resolution on the proposal for a Regulation of the EP and of the Council laying down measures concerning the European single market for electronic communications and to achieve a Connected Continent,and amending Directives 2002/20/EC ,2002/21/EC, 2002/22/EC, and Regulations (EC) No 1211/2009 and (EU) No 531/2012.
In its legislative resolution the EP recommended final phasing out of retail roaming surcharges for voice, SMS and data as of 15 December 2015 in order to allow consumers to “Roam Like at Home” (RLAH). In addition, the Commission should by 30 June 2015, in advance of that final abolition of retail surcharges, report on any necessary changes to the whole sale rates or wholesale market mechanisms. However, to prevent abusive usage of retail roaming services, roaming providers may apply a "fairuseclause" to the consumption of regulated retail roaming services provided at the applicable domestic pricelevel, by reference to fair use criteria.
Although the Council has not yet formed its views on this subject, the EC has considered it necessary to consult BEREC on this specific topic and therefore, on 9 April 2014, requested BEREC’s advice in assessing the state of the wholesale roaming market and defining the so-called “fair use criteria” for the use of roaming services.
After examining the Commission request, in May 2014, BEREC circulated a questionnaire to the operators and National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs) in order to gather additional information to be used for assessing the impact of the new legislative texts on the future roaming market.
BEREC received almost 140 replies from operators and answers from all NRAs. An overview of the information received and the preliminary analysis of the possible future scenarios were presented to the Stakeholders during the 2nd BEREC Stakeholder Forum meeting (16 October 2014, Brussels). The Stakeholders expressed their views on the impact of the EP proposals on the future developments of the market.
Their presentation made during the Stakeholder Forum meeting are available as follows:
BEREC plans to adopt a final document for submission to the Commission during its 21st plenary meeting to take place on 4 and 5 December 2014 in Brussels. Additionally, BEREC intends to publish for public consultation a draft BEREC opinion on the future of roaming.
Last up-date: 20 October 2014