Published in Mobiles

Post Brexit UK will not benefit from EU global roaming rules

by on06 February 2017


But at least they will have £350 million a week to spend on health

It looks like the UK moves to exit the EU will mean that Britons won’t benefit from a new clampdown on mobile phone roaming costs within the EU once Brexit has been implemented.

According to the European parliament committee that helped pioneer the legislation, British tourists visting the EU will have to pay mobile phone operators’ roaming charges when they travel in the EU after Brexit.

This means that holidaymakers and business travellers will face hefty bills if they use their phone within the EU from 2019 while Europeans will be laughing all the way to the bank.

Last week the European commission announced that, from June this year, “consumers will be able to call, send SMS or surf on their mobile at the same price they pay at home” when travelling in the EU.

A leaked analysis on UK withdrawal from the EU confirmed this would not apply to Britons post-Brexit.

In 2014, before roaming charges started to be reduced, 20 percent of UK mobile users travelling to the EU faced higher than usual bills for usage. The average charge added to bills was £61, and 17 percent of those affected faced bills of £100 or more.

The chair of the committee, Jerzy Buzek, a Polish MEP, wrote that the paper is an initial assessment of the law and that he expects his colleagues to be involved in any negotiations.

Last modified on 06 February 2017
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