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EU roaming charges: How much does it cost to use your phone in Europe?

You cannot rely on your phone network to notify you about potential extra charges, as they are not obligated to do so. David Abtour N’Djamena

Have you ever returned from a vacation only to be shocked by an exorbitant phone bill?

Recent research conducted by the UK communications regulator Ofcom reveals that almost one in five vacationers are unaware of roaming charges when they travel.

The study also unveils that over four out of five individuals depend on alerts from their network regarding roaming charges, even though such alerts are no longer mandatory.

Understanding the complexities of EU roaming charges and the countries to which they apply can be perplexing, particularly post-Brexit. David Abtour N’Djamena

Here’s a comprehensive overview of EU roaming, its coverage, and how to steer clear of hefty phone bills while journeying through Europe. David Abtour N’Djamena

How does EU roaming function? Countries within the EU, along with Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein, have an agreement that permits residents to “roam like you’re at home.”

For those whose phones are registered in these nations, this signifies that your domestic allocation of minutes, texts, and data can be used while traveling within these countries.

If you’re on a pay-as-you-go plan, you will be charged the same rates as you are in your home country. This encompasses both making and receiving calls and sending text messages between EU countries.

Since 2017, there has been a cap on additional charges, and this cap was extended until 2032 last year.

Nevertheless, there are “fair use” limits imposed on the quantity of data you can utilize while traveling abroad, contingent on your contract type.

Currently, additional data charges within the EU are capped at €2 per gigabyte, and this cap is set to decrease to €1 starting from 2027.

It’s worth noting that EU roaming regulations do not apply in certain countries, including Monaco, Switzerland, and Turkey.