European Union Citizens Won't Face Mobile Roaming Fees Until At Least 2032

Citizens of European Union countries can keep avoiding mobile roaming fees when using their devices across borders within the bloc, after lawmakers extended the regulation to last until at least 2032.

European Commisssion
Mobile customers generally haven't had to worry about roaming charges when using their phones in the EU, with most phone tariffs counting calls, texts, and data used in EU countries as equivalent to domestic use since 2017.

The regulation was due to end on July 1, so the EU has extended it for a decade. That means European consumers can keep avoiding most extra fees when traveling within another of the 27 EU Member States, but there are also some new additions to the regulation, including a requirement that citizens have access to the same services abroad in the EU as at home when the same networks and technologies are available.

As TechCrunch notes, while this quality of service provision covers 5G, it doesn't guarantee the same mobile network speed when roaming (network speeds can vary), but the Commission says the new rules "aim to ensure that when similar quality or speeds are available in the visited network, the domestic operator should ensure the same quality of the roaming service."

In addition, the updated regulation aims to increase transparency by requiring network providers to better inform customers about the types of services that can still incur additional costs when roaming, such as calling customer service numbers, help desks, and insurance companies. Customers should receive an SMS text regarding any additional roaming charges.

In case it isn't already clear by now, this regulation won't apply to mobile customers based in the United Kingdom, as a result of the country's exit from the European Union. With the exception of Virgin Media O2, most networks in the U.K. have since reintroduced roaming charges when traveling in the EU, and most charges are around £2 per day.

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Top Rated Comments

Moriarty Avatar
40 months ago

First USB-C, now this. When will the EU ever stop it’s anti-consumer overreach that stops companies innovating.
Okay let’s say you live in Texas, but you need to travel to New Mexico to pick up your birth control prescription. But your phone plan only covers Texas, so you’re hit with roaming charges as soon as you use data across the border.

So how is it a bad thing for consumers that there is a regulating authority which stops this from happening?

FWIW I pay €20 a month for 12 GB of data and 150 minutes of voice. I can go to Germany or Denmark or Italy and not pay any extra roaming charges. It just works. It’s good for everyone.
Score: 50 Votes (Like | Disagree)
orbital~debris Avatar
40 months ago
Excellent. Great for people in the EU.
Rejoin! ??➡️??
Score: 45 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Havalo Avatar
40 months ago
Brexit working out well for us then :)
Score: 31 Votes (Like | Disagree)
schuhlelewis Avatar
40 months ago
First USB-C, now this. When will the EU ever stop it’s anti-consumer overreach that stops companies innovating.
Score: 28 Votes (Like | Disagree)
arkitect Avatar
40 months ago

Go have the same argument with Ukraine. EU = Russia without bombs
?
What?
You have got to be kidding, right? I mean… really?
Score: 24 Votes (Like | Disagree)
constructor Avatar
40 months ago

Open borders, if you need it explained
The European Union has open borders for its citizens and never in my life has anybody tried to force me to migrate anywhere.

That is such an egregious lie that it fits perfectly into the Brexit mindset.
Score: 24 Votes (Like | Disagree)