UK Network Operator EE to Charge Customers for Roaming Within the EU

[MacRumors]

U.K. mobile operator EE plans to charge customers almost $3 (£2) a day to use data roaming within the EU, a result of the United Kingdom's exit from the European Union, BBC reports.

The new charge will go into effect in January 2022, and at first, will only apply to new EE customers or customers upgrading their plan and contract from July 7, 2021. Initially, EE, O2, Three, and Vodafone, representing the largest mobile operators in the U.K., stated they had no plans to reintroduce the charge. EE has, however, changed its mind and claims the new charge will "support investment."

Mobile networks in EU countries are not allowed to charge customers extra to use their phones in other EU countries, within fair use limits.

EE, O2, Three and Vodafone had all stated they had no plans to reintroduce roaming charges, despite Brexit giving them the option to do so.

EE said the charges would "support investment into our UK based customer service and leading UK network". However, it will not charge UK customers extra to use their phones in the Republic of Ireland.

Mobile operator O2 also says it plans to reintroduce the roaming charges, but notes that it is adding a "fair use" data limit of 25GB a month, and "will not charge customers more to use their phones in the EU," according to BBC.


Article Link: UK Network Operator EE to Charge Customers for Roaming Within the EU

 

[iMatt.]

£2 a day isn't bad to be fair, compared to what charges used to be!

 

[calzon65]

EE claims this charge is to "support investment", what a bunch of crap. They are just trying to get away with it.

Their sudden about face to charge an EU roaming charge will only last if EE's UK competitors don't charge the same or a similar EU roaming charge, then you will see another about face from EE with some type of "we are so sorry" mea culpa.

 

[ruka.snow]

I guess we just go back to buying a local sim when we land like the dark ages until we rejoin the union.

 

[Stridr69]

Interesting. My U.S. based T-Mobile account doesn't charge roaming fees anywhere on Earth. Sounds like a money grab to me. Wonder if Vodaphone and others will do the same?

 

[ruka.snow]

This will probably last as long as EE can get away with it, but if EE's UK competitors don't charge the same or a similar EU roaming charge, EE will probably drop the practice.

It will have already been agreed upon between each other and they’ll all have equal pricing.

 

[robinp]

Well, I won’t be changing my contract then. Already been on the lookout to upgrade to a 5G contract for a while but nothing comes close to my current 4G deal so keep not bothering. That shall continue for a long time now!

 

[thekeyring]

If this is a consequence of leaving the EU, why didn’t the fees kick in at the beginning of 2021?

 

[calzon65]

It will have already been agreed upon between each other and they’ll all have equal pricing.

Interesting ... that smells like collusion.

 

[thekeyring]

EE claims this charge is to "support investment", what a bunch of crap. They are just trying to get away with it.

Their sudden about face to charge an EU roaming charge will only last if EE's UK competitors don't charge the same or a similar EU roaming charge, then you will see another about face from EE with some type of "we are so sorry" mea culpa.

Didn’t Three run ads in 2019 referring to Brexit saying “deal or no deal, there won’t be roaming charges”?

 

[Canadia69]

In canada, you get charged for roaming accross the other side of the country lol…the same country!

fyi canada is the number 1 place for hightest phone bills in the world

 

[calzon65]

Didn’t Three run ads in 2019 referring to Brexit saying “deal or no deal, there won’t be roaming charges”?

They may have ... but maybe they are betting on the public "forgetting", which sadly the public does on many things.

 

[threesixty360]

The sad thing is that it doesn't cost them anything at all. They own most of the networks in Europe anyway. Which is why the EU deemed it unfair in the first place.
Same with when they used to charge for text and media messages (I think they still charge to send some of that).

I do wonder how it squares with the whole "alignment" thing that the Uk said it would do with EU laws & regulations?

Anyways, this is the Brexit gift that keeps on giving! What "we" (52% vs 48%) voted for. You just know that all the freedoms and directives to protect consumers in the UK that were fought hard for will eventually disappear. Its invevitable.

 

[ruka.snow]

They may have ... but maybe they are betting on the public "forgetting", which sadly the public does on many things.

I don't think it is so much that the public forget, it is that people feel these things will happen regardless of public opinion.

 

[flottenheimer]

"Mobile networks in EU countries are not allowed to charge customers extra to use their phones in other EU countries, within fair use limits."

One of the great EU laws!
Love it. Thank you, EU.

 

[H2SO4]

EE claims this charge is to "support investment", what a bunch of crap. They are just trying to get away with it.

Their sudden about face to charge an EU roaming charge will only last if EE's UK competitors don't charge the same or a similar EU roaming charge, then you will see another about face from EE with some type of "we are so sorry" mea culpa.

The real bunch of crap is the Brexit vote. This action is one of the plethora of negatives that have arrived, are arriving and will arrive.
Why shouldn’t they charge more?
Maybe the others are going to a sort the charge or increase bills/reduce service in others areas to compensate.
That’s right. We don’t know.
Brexit. YAY!!! Not.

 

[H2SO4]

Interesting. My U.S. based T-Mobile account doesn't charge roaming fees anywhere on Earth. Sounds like a money grab to me. Wonder if Vodaphone and others will do the same?

Have they already done the maths and adjusted your price in advance to suit?

 

[Radeon85]

Reintroducing the charges is absolutely pathetic and thats goes goes all carriers, its 100% a cash grab and nothing more. They've been able to do just fine without them.

Using our data that we pay for no matter where we are in the world shouldn't matter in this day and age.

 

[robinp]

If this is a consequence of leaving the EU, why didn’t the fees kick in at the beginning of 2021?

Of course it is a consequence of brexit. Did you really think every effect of brexit would occur immediately on day 1?

The key question to ask yourself:
If brexit hadn’t happened, could this occur? The answer is no.

 

[mariusfanu]

I guess I’ll be switching away from EE when it’s time to upgrade.

 

[iHorseHead]

I guess we just go back to buying a local sim when we land like the dark ages until we rejoin the union.

You sure you'll rejoin?

 

[BadMelonFarmer]

It will have already been agreed upon between each other and they’ll all have equal pricing.

That would be illegal and seen as price fixing.

They will all be watching what each other do and once one breaks ranks….. the other usually follow.

 

[BadMelonFarmer]

You sure you'll rejoin?

I guess 48% of us, at least, will be hoping so.

 

[User 6502]

£2 a day isn't bad to be fair, compared to what charges used to be!

It’s quite bad compared to zero, and sadly there is no guarantee that it won’t raise to 10 or more.

 

[User 6502]

You sure you'll rejoin?

Considering young people mostly voted remain and old people mostly voted for brexit there is a solid possibility that the decision will be reversed. People don’t live forever…