Hopes that UK citizens could enjoy renewed protection from mobile phone roaming charges in Europe as part of a renegotiation of Brexit terms, are fading, with The Telegraph reporting that European Union partners have blocked the move.
When it was a member of the EU, the UK was a driving force behind the “Roam Like at Home” campaign that saw mobile phone companies forced to cap international roaming charges and eventually eliminate the additional fees for citizens across the bloc in 2017.
What’s the current situation?
British citizens were one of the major beneficiaries of the Brussels legislation, as the tens of millions of them who holiday abroad each year make up one of the top source markets for travel in Europe. But their right to free roaming ceased on 31 December 2020, signed away at the end of the Brexit transition period by then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson as part of his “Get Brexit Done” strategy.
The major mobile network providers soon began revising their charging frameworks, and three of the so-called “big four” (EE, Three and Vodafone) introduced roaming charges for Brits abroad in Europe, with only 02 still differentiating itself by allowing free calls, texts, and data usage within the O2 Europe Zone, up to a 25GB limit. Tesco is also permitting free roaming in 48 countries but only until 2026. Other providers such as Giffgaff and ID Mobile have caps on usage abroad, while Sky charges £2-per-day for use in over 50 destinations.
From: 🇪🇺
— European Commission (@EU_Commission) December 24, 2021
To: You👈
10 more years of #roaming free regulation! 🎁
The @Europarl_EN and the @EUCouncil reached a political agreement to extend roaming rules until 2032.
Continue calling, texting and using mobile data while travelling within the EU at no extra costs.#DigitalEU pic.twitter.com/C5Nka1UiF6
Blocked by Southern European holiday hotspots
It’s a complex maze of potential charges and comparisons but recent “Brexit reset” talks between the UK government and European counterparts had raised the prospect that UK citizens might once again enjoy mobile phone use at local rates when visiting their European neighbours. That possibility is however now looking unlikely as The Telegraph reports that the discussions have been stymied by objections, particularly from Southern European countries.
Spain and Italy are said to be among the nations concerned that reduced roaming charges for Brits will mean increased charges for their own citizens. This risk stems from the fact that European telecoms firms currently charge UK mobile companies a wholesale fee for access to their networks. Dropping those access rates for the British would hit revenues, making it likely that prices would go up for, say, Spanish or Italian customers.
Overtourism in destinations such as Barcelona, the Canary Islands, and Venice is already creating resentment against international visitors due to their perceived impact on housing prices, crowding, and resources. Against that backdrop, politicians are reluctant to make any deals seen as disadvantageous for their domestic market.
