A MAJOR mobile network has made a big change to its roaming charges – and it’s good news for customers.
Tesco Mobile users will be able to roam for free in 48 European and worldwide countries until the end of 2023.
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The provider, which had originally planned to ditch the Roam like at Home package in May, has now extended it until the end of the year.
It means that customers will be able to use their mobile phone data, make calls and send texts in dozens of countries without any hidden charges.
Customers will still be charged extra for data roaming outside these countries.
Meanwhile, you will be charged if you go over your usual UK contracted limit.
You can set up a “safety buffer” though, which caps the limit you can spend on data to make you don’t use too much money.
The full list of 48 countries where roaming will be free is:
- Austria
- Azores
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Canary Islands
- Croatia
- Republic of Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- French Guiana
- Germany
- Gibraltar
- Greece
- Guadeloupe
- Guernsey
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland (Republic of)
- Isle of Man
- Jersey
- Italy
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Madeira
- Malta
- Martinique
- Mayotte
- Monaco
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Reunion
- Romania
- San Marino
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- St. Martin
- St. Barts
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Vatican City
Tesco Mobile said it will confirm what will happen for customers in 2024 at a later date.
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Either way, any pay-monthly customers who joined on or after June 16, 2022, will be given at least 30 days’ notice before any changes are made.
Plus, all pay monthly customers who joined or upgraded before June 16, 2022, will be able to carry on using their UK data allowance at no extra cost in the 48 destinations, unless they choose to upgrade.
Rachel Swift, Tesco Mobile’s chief customer officer, said: “As we move towards the summer months, we know how helpful it is to stay connected when abroad.
“That’s why, for the whole of 2023, our customers can continue to tap into their UK allowances for free in 48 destinations in Europe and beyond.”
What do other providers offer?
Most firms have reintroduced charges for travellers in the EU following Brexit.
That includes Asda Mobile which starts charging customers after they use 5GB of data.
Meanwhile, EE charges you £2 a day extra on top of your current contract.
Those who took out a new contract or renewed before July 6, 2021, won’t pay the extra charges though.
Meanwhile, Three Mobile charges customers an extra £2 a day from the first 24 hours of use.
If you took out a contract before October 1, 2021, you’re exempt from paying the extra fees though.
However, there are five providers that don’t charge their customers extra for using their mobiles in Europe and beyond.
BT Mobile and Plusnet
Both these providers are owned by the BT Group, and customers can use all their data while abroad without paying any fees.
They can do this through the “Roam Like at Home” scheme, which lets you use your mobile data in more than 40 EU countries, including France and Spain.
However, if you go over your UK contracted limit, you will have to pay extra, as per normal.
BT Mobile customers are charged 11p per extra MB of data they use, while Plusnet customers are charged 10p per MB.
Lebara
Lebara lets its customers use their data allowance in Europe as they would in the UK.
If you are on an unlimited plan, you can use up to 30GB of data when in the EU.
But if you go over your contracted limit, you will be charged 5p per extra MB of data used and 10p per minute of calls or per text.
iD mobile
All iD Mobile plans come included with EU roaming.
This feature lets you roam like at home in 50 destinations throughout the EU, European Economic Area and beyond.
The minutes, texts and data you use simply come out of your remaining monthly allowance.
If you use all your data allowance, you’ll be charged 10p per MB from then on.
O2
For customers with O2, their normal data, minutes and text allowances work as they do in the UK.
That said, data usage within the EU is subject to a roaming limit.
For example, if your UK monthly data allowance is over 25GB, your roaming limit will be 25GB.
If you go over this limit, you’ll be charged.
If your UK monthly data allowance is less than 25GB you won’t be subject to the 25GB roaming limit.
But if you use all your UK data abroad, you’ll need to buy a data “Bolt On” if you want to keep roaming.
Data “Bolt On’s” costs start at £3.
For the full list of countries where these rules apply, you can check out O2’s website.
Virgin Media
Virgin Media recently merged with O2, but customers can still get free roaming under the Roam like at Home scheme.
If you’re travelling outside the EU, you will be charged extra for any calls, texts and data you use though.
You can check out the provider’s “Roaming Hub” online for further rules and the list of countries where you can roam for free.
