Mobile phone operators will have to reduce their roaming charges across Europe.
The European Union has lowered the price limits for data downloads for those using mobiles outside their home country. The cost of making and receiving calls will also be reduced.
The new roaming regulation lowers the price caps for data downloads by 36%, making it much cheaper to use maps, watch videos, check emails and update social networks while travelling across the EU.
The EU says that as a result of the latest reduction, data roaming will now be up to 91% cheaper in 2013 compared to 2007.
The new prices caps are:
- downloading data or browsing the internet - 45 cent per megabyte (MB) + VAT (36% reduction compared to 2012)
- making calls - 24 cent a minute + VAT (17% reduction compared to 2012)
- receiving a call - 7 cent a minute + VAT (12.5% reduction compared to 2012)
- sending a text message - 8 cent + VAT (11% reduction compared to 2012)
Commission vice president Neelie Kroes said: ''The latest price cuts put more money in your pocket for summer, and are a critical step towards getting rid of these premiums once and for all.
"This is good for both consumers and companies, because it takes fear out of the market, and it grows the market.''
