EU mobile roaming rates to fall as of July 1

Mobile roaming rates will fall again from July 1, with maximum call charges while abroad in the European Union dropping to 0.39 euros per minute before VAT.

That is a reduction of 0.04 euros per minute, and the cost of taking calls while in another member state falls by the same amount to 0.15 euros.

In another change coming in on Thursday, consumers will be able to set fixed caps for downloading while out of the country with a default limit of 50 euros. Operators will also be obliged to issue customers with usage alerts as soon as 80 percent of the limit is reached.

Roaming charges have fallen by an average of 73 percent in the EU since 2005.