Page 67 - SAMENA Trends - January 2022

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Support Grows for an End to Roaming Charges in Latin America

After news that Peru and Ecuador have indicated that they American Telecommunications Commission (CITEL). This isn’t a
support the proposal of the Andean Committee of High completely unexpected development. At local level, a number of
Telecommunications Authorities (CAATEL) to extend the agreements are already in force, notably bilateral agreements to
elimination of international roaming costs in the Andean region to eliminate roaming charges between Brazil and Chile, agreed last
the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean, who – or where week. Chile hopes to extend this sort of deal to Argentina and
– will be next? Already, as we have reported, roaming charges for Peru, while Peru is reportedly working on similar agreements with
mobile communications have become a thing of the past for the Brazil. In addition, the Mercosur member countries, 19 nations
countries of the Andean Community – the CAN countries: Bolivia, from North, South and Central America and the Caribbean, are
Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. This happened on 1 January this year. said to be working towards eliminating roaming fees in the region
Now, however, the CAN countries are considering extending free in the longer term. There are also a number of initiatives in place
roaming. If a consensus is reached among the CAN countries, the from mobile operators in Latin America that include international
proposal will be presented in February at the meeting of the Inter- roaming at no additional charge.

Brazil, Chile to Scrap International Roaming Charges From 2023

International roaming charges for mobile
users travelling between Brazil and Chile
will be scrapped from January 2023, it
has been confirmed. Decree No. 10,949
was published in Brazil’s Official Diary of
the Union (Diario Oficial da Uniao, DOU)
on 26 January 2022, concluding a process
that got underway with the signing of a
Free Trade Agreement between the two
countries in Santiago on 21 November
2018. As per the document, roaming
charges must be cancelled within one year
of the decree being signed.

EE, Vodafone UK Push Back EU Roaming Moves

Operators Vodafone UK and EE delayed intended to impose an additional levy of a plan starting before 7 July 2021. Neither
the reintroduction of roaming charges for at least £1 per day on customers roaming operator intends to impose the levy on
customers travelling to destinations in the in the EU from today (6 January). It noted users travelling to the Republic of Ireland.
European Union (EU), which were originally the extra time would allow for “further Rival 3 UK also plans to reintroduce the
scheduled to be imposed early this month. testing to ensure the best possible charge, though its new policy doesn’t
In respective statements, Vodafone experience for customers”. EE announced apply until May, while Virgin Media O2 is
blamed the requirement for further testing the introduction of a £2 daily charge for yet to announce any additional fees, but
for shifting its activation date, while EE using tariff allowances across the EU in imposed a fair usage cap. Prior to the UK
cited technical hindrances. Vodafone June 2021, with the change meant to be leaving the EU, the country’s four operators
plans to begin charging for roaming within effective this month. It provided limited were bound by legislation to provide free
the EU at the end of the month, with EE detail on its postponement beyond citing roaming services to subscribers travelling
setting a new date of 3 March. Under technical delays. The operator’s fee does within the region.
plans revealed in August 2021, Vodafone not apply to pay monthly customers with

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