BEREC takes note of the European Commission’s proposals on roaming and welcomes providing its expert opinion

On 15 June 2016 the European Commission published the findings of its review of the wholesale roaming market.

The Commission’s proposals include the lowering of wholesale tariffs paid between operators with the view of abolishing retail roaming surcharges by 15 June 2017. This legislative process is a necessary step before the entry into force of “roaming like at home” and will be examined by the European Parliament and the Council in the coming months.

In addition, the Commission will also set out an implementing act about the definition of the fair use policy – the limit above which operators may apply a surcharge – and the methodology for assessing sustainability – the process which allows operators to apply surcharges in certain circumstances.

BEREC has identified accompanying measures to be necessary as these reduce the side effects of abolishing roaming surcharges for both end users and operators. Designing such measures, which have interlinked effects at the retail and wholesale levels, involves taking account of the different objectives such as preventing competitive distortions, protecting the interests of European consumers and promoting competition and investment.

BEREC is ready to play its role in the perspective of the “roaming like at home” regime and is providing its expert opinion on the impact of the proposed measures in early fall. The Commission is expected to consult BEREC in the course of this summer before the implementing act will be adopted by December 2016.