EU data roaming price cap comes into force

The European Union's Roaming Regulation cap comes into force today, with the aim to make it cheaper for users to access the internet when on holiday or business trips.

Data roaming is expected to be 91 per cent cheaper than it was in 2007, according to the EU.

The pricing is as follows:

• Downloading data or browsing the internet - 45 cents (39p) per Megabyte (MB)
• Making calls - 24 cents (21p) per minute
• Receiving a call - 7 cents (6p) per minute
• Sending a text message - 8 cents (7p)

Futher reductions are planned after 12 months. From 1 July 2014, the EU plans to cap the cost of data usage to 20 cents (17p) per MB.

The price of making voice calls will drop to 19 cents (16p) per minute and text messages will cost 6 cents (5p) each.

The price caps are expected to be especially useful for business users who travel a lot and frequently need to send messages. Using 35MB of data per day will now cost 15.35, instead of 245 it would have cost in 2012.

Neelie Kroes, the vice president of the Commission claimed the caps are important step towards ridding the EU of premium rates.

"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," she said in a statement.