"Roaming charges are here to stay" - Sure

Monday 02 November 2015

Islanders are going to keep paying roaming charges regardless of an EU decision to ban them.

Phone operator Sure say that despite last week’s EU decision, they will still be charged by European phone companies when their customers go abroad - and they say they have on choice but to pass those charges on to phone users.

Last week’s agreement by EU politicians means an interim cap on charges is set to cut roaming costs by 75% from next year, ahead of the full abolition in 2017.

Graham Hughes, the Chief Executive of Sure, said that the company would fight to reduce charges, but said that they had no choice but to pass the burden on.

He said: “There has been some confusion about the implications of the recent EU ruling on roaming charges. The reason that Channel Island operators must continue with roaming charges is that EU telcos will continue to charge Jersey operators for our customers who roam on their networks.

“The new EU law only creates an internal market without roaming charges, it does not stop EU operators levying roaming fees on operators from outside the EU and they will continue to do this.

“Sure will continue to work hard to negotiate low charges with EU operators but as long as they continue to charge us, we will have to pass on those fees.”

Sure have been offering mobile phone services in Jersey since 2006.