3 Roam Like Home - R.I.P.?

Reading on Boards.ie that the telco 3 is to axe its 3 like home service which basically meant that a 3 customer was charged abroad exactly as they would be at home for voice and data as long as they roamed on another 3 network.

One of the reasons being proffered for this move is the new reduced EU roaming rates which will, allegedly, deprive 3 of the revenue to support this service. In essence it makes a mockery of the EU roaming charges legislation by suggesting that it has introduced new charges for 3 customers where none previously existed.

I would imagine that the spirit of that legislation was that the telcos should desist from their previous unjustifiable profit taking on customers who travel and it seems from this consumers point of view, a pretty cynical move to just reclassify those charges to maintain profit margins rather than absorbing the reduction in revenue.

While officially 3 Ireland have denied that any changes are coming in this area, it is hard to believe they won't follow the lead of their British and Italian counterparts. To stay in line with their sister networks abroad who are ceasing the service on June 30th and honour their legal obligation to give 30 days notice, they will have to come clean by the end of the month.

I would call COMREG and ask what they think of this if I thought they cared or had the teeth to do anything about it but given that it took the EU, rather than our own regulator to take on the telcos in this regard in the first place, I wouldn't be hopeful of any meaningful response.