[attach id=263164 size="medium"]The new Eurotariff comes into force on Monday.[/attach]

Using mobile phone services while travelling within the EU will become cheaper on Monday when the new Eurotariff comes into force.

The cost of outgoing text messages will go down to 9c7 and outgoing calls will cost 29c2 a minute. For incoming calls subscribers will pay 8c5 per minute and surfing the internet or receiving e-mails will cost 54c7 per megabyte downloaded.

The Malta Communication Authority has advised consumers to check with their service provider that their plan is switched to the Eurotariff plan to take advantage of the new rates. Subscribers can make the switch at any time, even when abroad, at no cost.

It said the data package was capped at €50 unless subscribers had a specific agreement with their service providers. Subscribers would be alerted free of charge when reaching 80 per cent of the limit.

The new tariffs follow the approval of new rules by the European Parliament and the European Council.

Figures in the MCA’s 2012 annual report, released yesterday, show that mobile subscriptions increased to 539,452 in 2012, up 3.4 per cent over the previous year. Voice calls were up 123 per cent to 581 million minutes while 634 million SMSs were sent throughout the year, a 10 per cent increase over 2011.