The European Parliament has approved measures to drastically cut the cost of using mobile phones while travelling within the 27 EU member states.
From 1 July mobile phone operators will be able to charge a maximum of 43c per minute (excluding VAT) for outgoing phone calls, while receiving calls will be charged at a maximum rate of 19c per minute (excluding VAT).
In two years the maximum charges will fall to 35c and 11c per minute respectively.
Sending a text while roaming in the EU costs an average of 28c but that will drop to 11c.
The measures were approved by MEPs in Strasbourg this afternoon by 646 votes to 22.
The package also introduces per-second billing.
Currently customers are billed per minute and it is estimated that means paying for 20% more time than is actually used.
Mobile phone customers will also be able to set maximum cost limits for data services, to prevent them from unintentionally running up large bills by downloading material on their phones while abroad.
