However, all mobile phone operators charge each other for this service, meaning that the whole industry is effectively taxing customers for using their phones overseas, and passing the money between them.
Now Mrs Kroes’ successors have rowed back on her policy, and said that mobile phone companies need more time to deal with the hole that a ban on roaming charges would put in their profits.
Instead, they have suggested that people using their mobile phones abroad should be given a discount on a small amount of roaming, and face standard roaming charges on whatever else they use.