Vodafone Malta has become the first local operator to remove European roaming charges on its post-paid plans, but concerns have resurfaced over domestic tariffs being raised to compensate.

The company yesterday an-nounced the introduction of new post-paid plans providing customers travelling throughout Europe free incoming calls, free calls and texts to Maltese numbers and a free roaming data allowance.

The RED plans will also offer the same rate for out-of-bundle calls and texts to all European numbers, whether the customer is in Malta or abroad in Europe. However, some customers have expressed dissatisfaction that the new plans are between €2 and €5 more expensive per month than existing contracts. The company stressed that the increased prices include significantly improved data and call allowances, both locally and while travelling, apart from the roaming benefits.

Last June, the European Commission announced that roaming charges would be phased out altogether by June 2017, with drastically reduced fees coming into effect this April as an interim measure.

Mobile phone users will eventually pay the same price for calls, texts and mobile data whether at home or anywhere in the EU, although operators will be able to apply a fair use limit to prevent abuse.

Malta Consumers’ Association president Benny Borg Bonello, who raised fears about the possible rise in domestic tariffs last June, reiterated his concerns yesterday following the Vodafone announcement.

“The new measures are positive because they allow the consumer to take advantage of the single market, but more precautions should have been taken by the regulator to ensure the benefits were truly felt by the consumer,” he said.

With travel abroad increasing year on year, these new plans respond to a growing need

Vodafone Malta CEO Amanda Nelson said: “With the number of Maltese travelling abroad increasing by 15 per cent year on year, these new plans respond to a growing need. We want to give our customers the best service without them having to worry about the costs, not only in Malta but also when travelling in Europe.” Ms Nelson declined to comment on how the changes might impact Vodafone financially, but said that if customers upped their data usage overseas, the company would face additional costs from foreign operators for network use.

Industry sources have suggested, however, that the increase in usage, particularly of mobile data, will go some way to mitigating the companies’ losses.

Nationalist MEP David Casa was among those welcoming the move. “Roaming charges have represented an unnecessary barrier within the internal market, to the detriment of the consumer.” Go and Melita, also obliged to phase out roaming next year, did not respond to a request for comment.