Under new regulations that came into force yesterday, holiday makers and other European travellers, will now be paying a lot less for their mobile roaming charges.

Although the new maximum of 32p per minute is down just 3p on the previous price, the EU has put a cap on any data roaming charges. This is 50 euros or £41.50. Customers can however request their network not do this.

A survey by budgetplaces.com found that most Britons think the cap should be lower.

Under the new rules customers must also receive a text alerting them when they are reaching the download limit. Once the limit is reached the link to the Internet is automatically cut.

Many people also receive calls whilst abroad as well as make them. Network companies have been ordered to reduce the charges for these. As such, this is now a maximum of 12.5p per minute.

Roaming costs have been a bone of contention for holiday makers and others for a long time now with many incurring very high bills without realising. However the networks were very slow to act.

Labour MEP Arlene McCarthy, who steered the new regulations through the European Parliament, said: “Mobile phone companies were given ample opportunity to act on the cost of using phones in another EU country.

“In the end it has taken EU action on every issue – calling, texting and now data roaming – to bring prices down.”