Using your mobile in EU and EEA countries

UK businesses should check mobile contracts before staff travel to EU and European Economic Area (EEA) countries, as roaming charges may apply. This is because guaranteed surcharge-free roaming ('Roam Like at Home') ended with the UK leaving the EU.

Many providers have reintroduced charges for EU and EEA roaming, even on 'unlimited' UK plans. Data use now faces strict fair use limits of 12-50GB per month, with excess charges and time limits often applying, depending on providers. Daily fees are common - though some providers include free roaming up to 25GB on certain plans. Some higher-tier business tariffs or legacy contracts may still bundle EU access, so always confirm your specific terms.

Mobile charges and risks to businesses

Businesses often face surprise bills from unaware staff exceeding fair use limits on short trips, especially with data-heavy apps like email or navigation. Unexpected charges pile up quickly, so watch out for hidden caps on 'unlimited' plans and varying business versus consumer tariffs.

In 2020, the UK government legislated certain consumer protections, such as price transparency (eg customer alerts at 80% and 100% data use) and a default £45 monthly data cap that blocks further charges, unless you opt out in advance.

From October 2024, additional Ofcom rules have come into force requiring mobile providers to notify customers when they start roaming.

All these measures aim to limit financial harm from unexpected roaming charges. Still, frequent travellers can easily amass costs in certain situations.

Steps to take to protect yourself

Review all mobile contracts for roaming inclusions, limits and passes. You should advise staff to:

• enable roaming controls and data alerts before departure
• monitor usage via provider apps
• prioritise Wi-Fi Calling

For regular EU work, switch to eSIMs, local SIMs or international bundles to save money. It's advisable to check policies at least 30 days ahead of any trips, and train teams to avoid using mobile data without approval.

Check your provider's site for the latest terms and see the official GOV.UK guidance (last updated in 2020, but the rules have remained stable).

If you live in Northern Ireland

The Windsor Framework keeps Northern Ireland aligned with some EU digital market rules, but roaming protections ended like the rest of the UK. Providers can charge for EU use, though many currently waive roaming fees for travel between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland to avoid issues with 'inadvertent roaming'.

Legislation retains safeguards in these cases where operators must:

• inform NI customers about avoiding stronger signals from Irish networks
• take steps to block charges if your phone accidentally roams in Northern Ireland

Daily fees and data caps still apply elsewhere in the EU, depending on your provider.