The cost of using a mobile phone while abroad will continue getting cheaper from the beginning of July when the latest piece of EU legislation regulating this sector will enter into force.

From July 1, making a call while abroad to another EU country will set you back just 19 cents a minute, 21 per cent less than the current price.

It will also be cheaper to receive and answer a call, with the price going down to 5c a minute or 2c lower than the current price.

Sending a text message will go down from 8c to 6c. However, the biggest cut this time round will be related to data. Mobile networks across the EU will start charging 55.5 per cent less for every downloaded megabyte. From the current 45c per MB, the price will now go down to 20 cents.

According to experts there is no technical reason to charge extra

Malta had one of the highest roaming charges in the EU until a few years ago when the sector started being regulated through specific legislation.

Against the wishes of mobile networks, the European Commission – with the full support of MEPs – intervened in the market, pushing down the cost of mobile roaming technology since 2007.

According to experts in the field, there is no real technical reason for mobile networks to charge extra for using their network while abroad.

The European Commission is currently pushing for the total removal of roaming charges and has already presented legislation to this effect.

Apart from cheaper prices, as from next month new obligations on mobile operators will come into force.

Networks can now offer customers a specific roaming deal before travelling starts and, where available, a user will be allowed to choose a local mobile provider for data services such as e-mailing, reading the news online, uploading photos and watching videos when abroad.

Commissioner Nellie Kroes – responsible for the EU’s digital agenda – said member states should be able to approve legislation to end all roaming charges by the end of this year.