Travellers could be caught out by costly mobile data roaming charges this summer

If you’re planning a holiday abroad this summer, you must check your mobile provider’s data roaming policy before you go, or you may be caught out by high fees.

Since the UK left the EU, there have been changes to how our mobiles work abroad.

Some mobile networks have reintroduced roaming fees for using your phone in Europe.

These fees can vary depending on your provider and when you signed your phone contract – and add up fast!

Why you need to be careful with data roaming

Using your mobile data abroad might seem like the norm for tasks like translating, getting directions, playing Candy Crush (anyone still plays it?!), scrolling TikTok, or staying in touch with friends and family.

However, turning on data roaming without checking the fees can lead to unexpected and hefty bills, which you may not have realised before you went away.

UK phone providers used to offer free data roaming in the EU, but things have changed since Brexit.

Networks like O2, Sky Mobile and iD Mobile haven’t reintroduced roaming fees, but most others have.

To help you manage your costs, Go.Compare has examined the policies of major phone providers and highlighted what they charge for data roaming.

Current roaming charges by provider

EE

If you have a pay monthly plan with EE that started after 7 July 2021, you will be charged £2.47 a day for using your minutes, texts, and data in its European roaming zone.

You can check EE’s roaming costs.

O2

O2 doesn’t charge extra to use your usual allowance within the EU, up to a limit of 25GB.

After that, it’s £3.50 a day for any data used.

Find details here on using your phone abroad with O2.

Vodafone

Charges depend on your destination and plan.

In Europe, it’s £2.25 a day (or £10 for 8 days) for contract customers, with an additional £3.13 per GB past the 25GB limit.

If you’re on a pay monthly plan in ‘Zone A’ countries like the Republic of Ireland and Norway, no charges apply.

Vodaphone’s data roaming charges can be found here.

Three

If you signed or upgraded a contract after 1 October 2021, it’s £2 per day within the EU and £5 for some countries outside the EU.

Three offers Go Roam passes with a 12GB fair use limit for various durations or a Data Passport for £5 a day.

You can find out Three’s roaming costs here.

Tempted to travel abroad this summer? Find out the cheapest time to book a holiday.

Tips to avoid high roaming charges

Catherine Hilley, mobile and broadband expert at Go.Compare, suggests several ways to avoid unexpected charges:

• Use an alternative SIM: An eSIM or local SIM can be cheaper if you need to use a lot of data.
• Download content beforehand: Save music, books, or films before you leave home.
• Set spending caps: Most networks allow you to set a spending cap to avoid large bills.

Whether you have a new contract or an old one, knowing your provider’s data roaming rules can save you from unexpected charges.

New mobile roaming alerts for UK holidaymakers

Starting from 1 October 2024, new rules from Ofcom will help protect UK holidaymakers from unexpected roaming charges.

It’s annoying that its not in place before the summer, but at least it will help going forward.

When you travel abroad, mobile phone providers will need to:

• Notify customers when they start roaming: This will ensure you know the costs involved.
• Provide clear, free-to-access information: This will help you make informed decisions about using your mobile abroad.

Stop accidental roaming – even in the UK!

Sometimes, your phone might connect to a network in another country even if you’re not there.

This unbelievably happens to around 1 in 7 people!

It’s more common in border regions and coastal areas.

People see it happen a lot in Northern Ireland, with many thousands of people living near the border, plus people living on the English coast getting caught up roaming to French networks.

The new Ofcom rules will:

• Alert customers to inadvertent roaming: Providers must give clear information on avoiding inadvertent roaming.
• Enable measures to limit roaming costs: This could include treating mobile usage in Ireland the same as in the UK.

Cristina Luna-Esteban, Ofcom’s Director of Telecoms Consumer Policy, said:

“Our new protections will mean you’re told what it’ll cost when you start roaming, so you can be confident that there won’t be any surprises when it comes to your mobile bill while on holiday.”