New roaming rules for travellers IN THE EU: “roaming as home” for another 10 years

Tomorrow, 1 July 2022, the new enhanced roaming regulation will enter into force. It broadens “roaming as home” until 2032. It is a scheme whereby travellers IN THE EU and EEA can call, send text messages and use the Internet abroad without additional fees. The new rules will also bring significant benefits TO EU businesses and citizens with better roaming experience with the same quality of mobile communications services abroad as they have in their own country. The new rules also improve access to emergency communication across THE EU and provide clear information on services which may be subject to additional fees.

Vice-President of the Commission for the Digital Age ready for European Affairs Marsinte Westager: 

The Roaming Regulation has allowed us all to use “roaming as home”. When you travel TO THE EU, we can call, send a text message, and use the Internet without additional costs. This is a very tangible benefit from our European single market. By extending the operation of these provisions, competition between operators and consumers will be maintained for the next ten years, free roaming services will be available.

Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Bretton: 

Remember when we had to turn off mobile data when travelling around Europe to avoid a huge roaming bill? It's a history now. And we plan to keep this situation at least for the next 10 years. Better speed, greater transparency: we continue to improve the lives OF EU citizens.

Better mobile Internet speed during travel

Consumers will now be entitled to the same mobile Internet quality abroad as home. Operators providing mobile services should ensure that consumers have access TO 4G or advanced 5G networks where they are available at the destination visited by the consumer. Consumers should be able to find information on network availability in their mobile service contracts and operators' websites.

Troubleshooting unexpected hidden charges

When consumers travel to a plane or ship, mobile phones can automatically connect to the satellite network provided by satellites. The use of mobile connection services provided by non-road networks may be subject to very high charges. The new roaming rules oblige operators to protect consumers and inform them when their phones are switched to non-road networks. In addition, operators should automatically stop mobile communications services if mobile communications services in networks other than land-based networks reach 50 euros or any other pre-determined limit. Operators may provide additional services, such as the possibility of waiving roaming in aeroplanes and ships.  

Better awareness for better choice

Consumers should be able to make informed decisions on the use of services which may lead to additional costs. When travelling abroad, call customer service, insurance and airline help services or send text messages to participate in competitions or events may be more expensive than at home. Operators must ensure that consumers receive information about the types of telephone numbers that may lead to additional costs by calling or accessing customers from abroad. Operators should inform consumers via automatic SMS messages sent when crossing the border to another EU country as well as in service contracts.

112 - emergency communication during travel

The new roaming rules ensure that citizens are informed of the single EU emergency number 112 they can use anywhere IN the EU to reach emergency services. By June 2023, operators should start sending automatic messages to customers travelling abroad to inform them of the available alternative means to achieve emergency services, such as using real-time text or apps. People who can't make voice calls can use these alternative features.

Lower interoperator prices, better conditions for consumers

The new roaming regulation sets out lower wholesale charges, costs for operators on the use of networks abroad to provide services to their customers when they are abroad. The maximum wholesale price shall be determined at a level that the operators are able to carry and recover the costs of providing roaming services to consumers at domestic prices.

• The following wholesale ceilings are set in the new Regulation: €2 per GB in 2022, €1.8 per GB in 2023, €1.55 per GB in 2024, €1.3 per GB in 2025, €1.1 per GB in 2026 and €1 per GB from 2027.

• For calls: eur 0,022 per minute in 2022-2024 and eur 0,019 per minute from 2025.
• Sms: €0.004 per sms in 2022-2024 and €0.003 per sms from 2025.

Lower wholesale prices are in favour of consumers as they must ensure that all operators are able to offer competitive roaming subscriptions on the basis of “roaming as home”.