Abolition of Roaming in the Western Balkans: Talk and Pay Like at Home

(Patria) - From July 1, in the Western Balkan countries, the maximum price for mobile roaming charges will apply in accordance with the "like at home" rule, which is defined by the Agreement on Reducing Prices of Services in Public Mobile Communication Networks in the Western Balkan Region, signed by the Western Balkan countries at the digital summit in April 2019 in Belgrade, and which entered into force on July 1, 2019.

By introducing the "roaming like at home" rule, users will pay for services in accordance with the tariff package/option they have contracted with their operator for domestic traffic, meaning they will not pay additional charges when traveling within the Western Balkan region. Traffic generated within the Western Balkan region (calls, SMS messages, mobile internet) will be charged or deducted from the bonus included in the tariff package in the same way as if the user were at home. It will be the same for the user whether they use their mobile phone while traveling within the Western Balkan region or use it in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

In accordance with the Rule on the Application of the Fair Use Policy and the Assessment of the Sustainability of Abolishing Additional Charges for Regulated Retail Roaming Services and the Decision on Roaming Service Prices in Public Mobile Communication Networks in the Western Balkan Region, operators have made amendments and additions to their price lists, and have created the document "Conditions for Using Roaming Services in the Western Balkan Region," which precisely defines the conditions and prices for using roaming services in the Western Balkan region, and which are available on the operators' websites.

"The application of the new roaming policy in the Western Balkan region will lead to a significant improvement in the overall position of the telecommunications sector in BiH, which will practically fully implement the EU Commission Regulation from 2016, ensuring the policy of fair use of roaming services in the member states of the Union, and by applying the European principle of 'roaming like at home,' communication and business with countries in the region will be significantly facilitated. It is also important to note that representatives of the European Union, the RCC, and representatives of the Western Balkans have already begun activities on implementing a roadmap for reducing roaming prices between the EU and the Western Balkans," states Draško Milinović, Director General of the Communications Regulatory Agency.