Mobile operator EE  will charge new customers extra to use their mobile phones in Europe.  And O2 are also changing their policy.

Following O2’s announcement on Wednesday this week that they would be introducing a ’25GB fair use’ roaming charge (more on that below), EE have today announced they will be reintroducing European roaming charges – not until January 2022, but it will apply to all customers that sign up from July 7th 2021.

Read our updated roaming charges guide for 2024.

Those joining or upgrading from 7 July 2021 will be charged £2 a day to use their allowances in 47 European destinations from January 2022.  EE previously said it had no plans to reintroduce roaming charges in Europe but it seems that decision has now changed.

EE are the first UK operator to reintroduce the charges since the Brexit trade deal was signed at the end of December. Currently mobile networks in EU countries are not allowed to charge customers extra to use their phones in other EU countries, within fair use limits.

If you remember back in January 2021, EE, O2, Three and Vodafone all announced they had no plans to reintroduce roaming charges, after Brexit.

In the new announcement EE said the change would “support investment into our UK based customer service and leading UK network”.

It confirmed it will not charge UK customers extra to use their phones in the Republic of Ireland.

Customers travelling to the 47 included countries will be able to buy 30-day passes to use their UK price plan when abroad. The cost will depend on which price plan the customer is on.

On Wednesday, it was announced that O2 was going to reintroduce EU roaming charges.

However, it’s slightly different with them instead adding a ‘fair use’ data cap of 25GB a month and will not charge customers more to use their phones in the EU.  Customers exceeding this 25GB fair use policy may be subject to a £3.50/GB charge when in the EU.  The average data use for a UK mobile customer per month is actually less than 10GB so this policy is unlikely to affect most users, however, those that use 25GB a month or more will want to keep an eye on their allowance when abroad or look at an alternative mobile plan when travelling.

Fair use limits are normal and were allowed when the UK was still part of the EU. From next month, Three will be reducing its fair use limit from 20GB a month to 12GB.