HAKOM: Lower roaming prices in the European Union starting 30 April

ZAGREB, 22 April2016–The EU Roaming Regulation enters into force 30 April 2016. This Regulation precribes that roaming prices in the EU/EEA (EU +  Island, Lichtensteinand Norway) will be set on the basis of domestic prices in every country. In the transitional period until 14 June 2017 operators will be allowed to charge for roaming services in the EU/EEA only prices for domestic services increased by roaming fees.

Roaming prices will thus depend on the national tariff selected by the individual user and will be increased by roaming fees for service within the EU. That means that every Croatian roaming will be paying for that service according to the tariff agreed by his operator for national traffic increased by the operator for the appropriate roaming fee. Prices forroaming outgoing calls are determined on the basis of the price of calls towards other national mobile networks according to tariffs agreed by the user in his contract increased by a maximum of HRK 0.47. In case of roaming incoming calls, since incoming calls are not charged in domestic traffic, the price will be increased only by a fee amounting to the maximum of HRK 0,10. Other roaming fees that may be charged by the operator in addition to the regular price amount up to a maximum of HRK, 0.19 per a text (SMS) message and up toHRK 0.47 for 1 MB of data traffic.

Roaming fees, that is roam lke at home prices, will be completely discontinued in mid June of next year. The precondition is the adoption of implementing legislation at the EU level concerning the relevant wholesale market and the criterion of fair use and sustainability of the new model of discontinuing roaming prices. These acts will be adopted within the framework of European legislative procedures to which HAKOM will contribute as the Croatian representative among European regulators. HAKOM will continue to protect the interests of the Croatian market which is characterized by a large inflow of tourists from the EU during summer months to avoid situations in which Croatian users suffer the consequences of decisions at the EU level resulting in increased domestic prices or decreased quality of service.

ABOUT HAKOM: HAKOM (www.hakom.hr) - Croatian Regulatory Authority for Network Industries – ensures preconditions for a fair market competition, stable growth and environment for innovations in the electronic communications and postal services market. HAKOM protects users’ interests and the possibility of choice among various communications and postal services at affordable prices, defines sustainable competitive conditions for operators and service providers under fair conditions for return on investment, and provides support to economic growth, public services and the quality of life in the Republic of Croatia by using modern technologies. HAKOM’ strategic goals are: to promote regulation of the electronic communications and postal services market, to support growth of investments and innovations in the electronic communications and postal services market, to provide efficient use of limited resources, to accelerate the growth of broadband products and services, to provide affordable offers of communications and postal services, to provide protection and informing of users, to build an efficient and comprehensive information system, to define and implement efficient processes, and to acquire multi-disciplinary competencies in market regulation.