Laurence Dollimore
BRITS’ mobile phone charges may be set to soar when they visit the continent post-Brexit.
Mobile phone operators are planning for a worst case scenario of higher call and data charges once the UK finalises its exit from the union.
The networks fear that European companies could seize the opportunity to raise the wholesale cost of calls and data for Britons travelling around Europe because the EU-wide caps implemented by Brussels will no longer apply.
The feared hikes could see Brits pay up to €50 to stream a single song on their phone.
It comes after the European Commission has already indicated that a quick bilateral deal between the UK and the EU on roaming charges will not be possible.
The German commissioner responsible for telecoms policy, Gunther Oettinger, said last year that there are ‘obvious restraints’ as World Trade Organisation rules state that any bilateral agreement outside a comprehensive free-trade deal would have to be extended to all other WTO members.
Industry experts have also warned that negotiating roaming rights as part of any trade deal would be difficult.
Countries like Spain, which receives high numbers of British tourists, may be unwilling to offer good terms because tourist traffic and congestion on networks would be weighted in one direction.
Yet another nail in the Brexit coffin.
Stefanjo what is that meant to mean exactly?
If anyone was stupid enough to pay 50 Eur to stream a tune, then they deserve it.
The UK will of course be free to reciprocate.
Also, ‘Countries like Spain, which receives high numbers of British tourists, may be unwilling to offer good terms because tourist traffic and congestion on networks would be weighted in one direction.’
So Spain wants to offer terrible terms for tourists to roam because that would make fantastic economic sense… What is it called? Oh yes ‘The Spanish way’.
But dear Pete…
You are not very bright, are you?
“The UK will of course be free to reciprocate”
There will be NO agreement, what reciprocity are you talking about?
“So Spain wants to offer terrible terms for tourists to roam because that would make fantastic economic sense…”
It is not Spain who wants to offer blablabla.
It is the EU.
Got it now, genius?
And, trust me, nobody cares too much for British tourists, arguably the worst on Earth.
They will be replaced by Japanese, Koreans, Chinos, whatever.
Not big deal
This will be one of many things that they will lose that will teach them how stupid they are
Finding good wifi zones seems the only solution.
Actually it’s a good thing. Next time your in a Restaurant or anywhere take note of the first thing placed on the table, or people just sitting or walking along flicking through their phone.
https://seriousaccidents.com/blog/ten-worst-cell-phone-related-injuries-deaths/
Project Fear – only works on frightened dummies.
Lots of free wifi available in Spain and I’m sure there are in other developed European countries use them, if you feel the desire to stream a song, more fool you.
Keep your security up-to-date. Free Wi-Fi can be dodgy.