Press Release: Digital Agenda: Wave goodbye to mobile internet rip-offs from 1 July; voice and SMS prices to fall also

From 1 July 2012, using mobile internet to access maps, videos, photos, social networks and email will be much cheaper while travelling in other EU member states. A new EU regulation means that, for the first time, there will be a maximum charge for "data roaming" - downloading data from the internet when using a mobile connection.

The data roaming rules will mean savings of over €1000 per year for a typical businessperson travelling in the EU. A family taking an annual holiday in another EU country can expect to save at least €200. The new rules will also cut the maximum prices for voice calls and texts.