This is one of the facts behind the data of a survey released by the European Commission which shows that three over four EU citizens are worried about the cost of using their mobile phone when travelling in the EU. Regarding mobile Internet-related services, not even 20% of Europens do consider that the costs of data-roaming for (Internet are fair. Based on these data, as well as the opinions sent within a recent consultation, the European Commission present the review of current EU roaming rules by June 2011.

These data which are intended to feed the forthcoming review of EU roaming Regulation, aim to reach the performance target set by the Digital Agenda for Europe so that roaming and national mobile services tariffs would be the same by 2015. For that purpose, as Vice-President of the European Commission for the Digital Agenda, Neelie Kroes highlighted at the presentation of the results of the Eurobarometer survey on how Europeans use their mobile phones when they are in roaming, telecom companies must listen to their customers in order to provide better roaming solutions for European citizens and businesses.

The survey shows that today more people are using their mobiles whilst travelling in the EU than four years ago, when first reductions on roaming tariffs were introduced due to the application of EU roaming Regulation. Citizens travelling within the EU, report making 32% more calls, receiving 31% more calls and texting 43% more since 2006.

But the most worrying data is probably that 72% of mobile users, although knowing about cuts on mobile roaming tariffs, continue to limit their mobile voice calls while abroad because they are worried about the costs. Furthermore, and although data roaming services have started to take-off with 10% of respondents making use of these services, they still consider that their cost is not reasonable, and only 19% of respondents saying that the cost of data roaming services is fair.

Who calls more in roaming? Men or women? Youngsters, adults or older people?

This survey has also revealed a few interesting data about how Europeans use, or not, their mobile phones when they travel in the EU. It shows, for example, that men are more likely to make voice calls while women seem to prefer texting messages, as they do so in 57% and 56% of the cases respectively. Cypriots seem to be the less worried about their phone bill when they are travelling as 88% of them use roaming services, all the contrary than Britons who only use voice services in 44% of the cases.

Young people are now significantly more likely to use roaming services compared to 2006 figures, as their voice calls have gone up 43%, they receive 42% more calls and have doubled the text messages they send with a 51% increase. Retired people, however, only use these services in 30% of the cases and 15% of 25-39 year olds do not use their mobile phones abroad at all.

The results of this Eurobarometer survey, as well as the results of the public consultation on the future of the Roaming Regulation which closed on 11th February, will feed into the Commission's review of current EU roaming rules due by June 2011.