Roaming Tariffs

Article

Thanks to EU roaming rules, the cost of making and receiving calls when abroad in the EU is now substantially cheaper than in 2007, when the EU first started to tackle excessive roaming charges.

The maximum tariffs (excluding VAT) for calls, texts and downloading data are:

	1 July 2014	30 April 2016**	15 June 2017
Outgoing voice calls (per minute)	€0.19	domestic price + up to €0.05	no extra roaming fee, same as domestic price
Incoming voice calls (per minute)	€0.05	€0.0114	no extra roaming fee, same as domestic price
Outgoing texts (per SMS message)	€0.06	domestic price + up to €0.02	no extra roaming fee, same as domestic price
Online (data download, per MB*)	€0.20	domestic price + up to €0.05	no extra roaming fee, same as domestic price

*The tariff is per Megabyte to download data or browse the Internet whilst travelling abroad (charged per Kilobyte used).

**From 30 April 2016 onwards, the roaming fee equal to domestic price + €0.05 may not exceed €0.19 for voice and €0.20 for data. The roaming fee equal to domestic price + €0.02 may not exceed €0.06 for SMS.

These price caps are the maximum permissible prices. Operators are free to offer cheaper rates, so be on the lookout for better deals!

Member States' national telecoms regulators must ensure that mobile phone operators comply with the new rules on data roaming and the lower prices of voice calls. Consumers can contact the national regulator in the Member State where their mobile operator is based if they have any problems or questions about the new limits.