Roaming Charges could remain with Brexit

Local politicians have expressed their concerns about the possibility of unpopular mobile phone roaming charges continuing locally in the event of the UK leaving the European Union.

At present roaming charges in the EU are set to be abolished from June 2017.

Roaming charges have always been a contentious issue in this area with the close proximity to the border meaning that even when you are in Warrenpoint or South Armagh mobile phones will hook up to the Republic's networks. Also the fact that many people in this region cross the border several times a day.

MLA Justin McNulty has stated that the EU and not the British government is leading the way in regards to abolishing the roaming fees and that any exit from the EU could see mobile data charges surge with massive hikes in phone bills.

The MLA commented "Rising roaming charges after any withdrawal from the EU would cause serious financial implications for people in my constituency of Newry and Armagh living close to the border  who often find their phone has switched to a southern network; they have added cause to be alarmed at the prospect of leaving the European Union.

“Already, a gross disparity exists between using phones in EU and in non-EU countries. Without EU regulation we could easily have a phone call from Dublin costing the same as one from Beijing, around 30 times more than at present.

Also adding her concerns about unfair roaming charges was MLA Megan Fearon who said "If Britain succeeds in dragging the North out of the EU against the democratic wishes of the people we will continue to be faced with these unfair charges.

"Roaming charges are one of the negative realities of partition faced by thousands of people who live along the border and who travel across the border every day to work and study.  They are one of the many ridiculous impositions on the Irish people due to partition and there was a huge amount of relief in border areas that it looked like they were about to be abolished.

"We have suffered as a result of partition and we should not be punished further as a result of the votes of English Tories.

"The people of the north voted to remain in the EU and that must be respected."