RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Mobile telephony roaming charges will disappear from January 1 within the Andean Community (CAN), including Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. This measure will benefit the 111 million people living in these four territories.
In this way, Bolivians, Colombians, Ecuadorians, and Peruvians will not have to pay any additional surcharge for the international roaming service under the postpaid modality in the countries of the Community, the international organization informed on Monday in a communiqué.
The elimination of roaming will occur thanks to the entry into force of Decision 854, a supranational rule approved on February 19, 2020, by the four countries and of mandatory compliance.
This rule establishes that when a citizen of one of the countries of the Andean Community is in the territory of the other three countries, the same conditions and rates will apply as in the country of origin for voice, SMS, and data services.
“This historic decision contributes to the efforts of the Andean Community countries to close the digital divide and fulfill the founding principle of our organization, which is to improve the quality of life of Andean citizens,” said CAN secretary-general, Colombian Jorge Hernando Pedraza.
The head of the organization emphasized that the elimination of international roaming charges is in addition to the milestones recently achieved by the CAN, such as the Andean Migratory Statute and the Andean Environmental Charter.
Likewise, Pedraza also highlighted the application of the rule that facilitates the circulation of vehicles for private use by tourists and the upcoming implementation of the project that simplifies and digitizes trade (Intercom).
In 2019, the Andean Community celebrated 50 years of its creation as the longest-running integration mechanism in South America. Chile and Venezuela were also members in previous years.
Among the achievements during its first half-century, the Andean Community has established itself as a free trade and free movement of people zone and validated its tax schemes to avoid double taxation.