The deadline for mobile operators to offer their customers cheaper roaming charges has arrived.

When the EU ended its investigation into mobile roaming charges, it gave operators until the end of July to start informing customers about the new tariffs. Once customers request the new roaming packages, the operator is expected to move them over to the cheaper price plan by the end of August. Any customers that do not specifically request a move to the new tariff will automatically be switched over by the end of September.

Details of the new pricing regimes are appearing on operator web sites now.

Orange’s roaming web site contains the advice, "Orange will be reducing call charges across many countries. You don't need to do anything, you'll automatically benefit from the new rates." It notes that from the end of August, customers travelling in Europe will pay 38p per minute to make a call and 19p to receive a call.

When IT Week called its customer helpline, Orange said it was still " training staff" on the new price plans.

Many of the other major UK providers have also elected to start offering the cheaper call prices from the end of August, the latest time possible under the European roaming regulations.

3, the cheapest provider, offers a blanket cost of 25p to make a call to any UK landline or mobile, and just 10p to receive one. Charges for Vodafone customers are 38p to make a call and 19p to receive a call.

O2 users are being contacted about its new roaming charges with the promise that activation would follow seven days later. A note on its web site advises that the lower call prices are already available.