Surcharge-free roaming when travelling to EU and EEA countries will no longer be guaranteed from 1 January 2021. This includes for employees of UK companies travelling in the EU for business. However, the mobile operators (Three, EE, O2 and Vodafone) have stated that they have no current plans to change their mobile roaming policies.

The Government has legislated, through the introduction of the Mobile Roaming (EU Exit) Regulations 2019, to oblige mobile operators to apply a financial limit of £45 on monthly mobile data usage (currently €50 under EU law) while abroad after 1 January 2021. This means users cannot continue to use mobile data services when roaming unless they actively chose to continue spending.

As for Northern Ireland, the Government has passed legislation to ensure that operators continue to make information available to their customers on how to avoid inadvertent roaming in border regions from 1 January 2021. Operators will also continue to be required to take reasonable steps to protect their customers from paying roaming charges for inadvertently accessing roaming services. To read the guidance note in full, click here.