Shoppers looking to change their mobile phone contract or get a better deal are switching over concerns of huge data roaming charges. That's according to a new report by Lyca Mobile who's research shows changes to roaming fees are a serious issue for UK mobile users, prompting people to abandon their current provider in search of a better deal.
Almost half (44%) of people surveyed said bringing back roaming charges is making them question if they should switch providers, with more than one-third (36%) stating that free roaming tariffs offered by alternative providers outside of the big four UK operators would prompt them to switch.
The situation is compounded by widespread confusion about roaming charges, with more than half (51%) of UK mobile contract customers stating they don’t know if their provider has reintroduced roaming charges and just four in ten (39%) feeling confident they understand how much they will pay for roaming in the EU.
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As people across the UK face rising inflation and soaring energy bills, consumers are looking for value to keep household costs as low as possible. Almost two-thirds (65%) of respondents cited the current cost of living crisis as the economic factor making them most likely to reconsider their phone contract.
Given roaming fees could add more than £100 to the cost of a two-week holiday for a family of four in Europe phone bills are increasingly hitting the bottom line, and pushing up unnecessary costs for holidaymakers.
Roaming is when a mobile phone is used outside of its home network, so overseas, and connects to another available cell network. Before the UK left the EU, Britons could use their monthly allowances of calls, data and texts while in 28 destinations in the EU for no extra charge.
Now the UK is no longer part of the EU some mobile providers have reintroduced roaming charges, while others are allowing customers to still roam for free. With this in mind, we have compiled a list of the providers who have not reintroduced EU roaming charges, therefore offering free data roaming for their customers.
Lyca Mobile
Lyca Mobile, who conducted the research above, is one of a handful of operators to not have reintroduced EU roaming charges. Lyca Mobile chairman, Allirajah Subaskaran said: "With rising inflation and soaring bills, roaming charges when travelling in the EU are yet another blow to people looking forward to a much-deserved summer break abroad.
"At Lyca Mobile we have not reintroduced roaming charges, enabling us to maintain attractive price points for customers. From our heritage as a low-cost international calling network, we know how important it is to be able to connect with family and friends - wherever you are. This shouldn’t be the preserve of the few, which is why we are proud to deliver great value offers with inclusive roaming in the EU.”
They offer SIM-only plans and phone plans, as well as data bolt-ons. Lyca Mobile’s latest SIM-only mobile plans include:
- National Plus - for new SIM customers, £10 for 30 days. Includes 15GB of data, unlimited UK minutes and texts, 100 international minutes and EU roaming.
- UK Plan Super Extra - for new SIM customers, £15 for 30 days. Includes 30GB of data, unlimited UK minutes and texts, 100 international minutes and EU roaming.
- UK Plan Mega Plus - for new SIM customers, £20 for 30 days. Includes 100GB data, unlimited UK minutes and texts, 100 international minutes and EU roaming.
New Lyca Mobile customers can also get a 50% discount on these plans for the first three months.
O2
O2, who have merged with Virgin Media, are one of the only big providers to not reinstate EU roaming fees. They offer their customers free data roaming in 49 countries in Europe.
Customers who are have a UK monthly data allowance which is over 25GB, will have a roaming limit of 25GB when roaming in O2's Europe Zone. This means they can use up to 25GB of their allowance at no extra cost – and O2 will text customers who are close to the limit, and again if they reach it. Users can still use data if they reach O2's roaming limit, but they'll be charged at £3.50/GB.
Those who want to travel further afield can get the O2 Travel Bolt On as O2 say it's the perfect way to stay connected when you’re on holiday - it costs £4.99 a day in selected destinations outside Europe.
O2 offer SIM-only deals as well as handset plans. Here are some of their best offers currently:
- Plus Plan - gives customers 30GB data on a SIM-only plan which is for 24 months at £15 a month, includes unlimited minutes and texts, free data roaming (including USA), six months free Apple Music and six months of Disney+ or Amazon Prime Video.
- Pay as you go - the cheapest pay as you go SIM deal we have seen costs £10 credit and gives O2 customers 7GB of data, unlimited minutes and texts, free data roaming and the ability to claim £10 free credit back, only online.
- Nothing Phone 1 - they currently have the brand new Nothing Phone 1 handset on a 36 month device plan for just £10 upfront and then £24.20 a month. This includes 256GB of memory, 3GB data, unlimited minutes and texts, free data roaming and more.
Find out more about O2's EU roaming here.
Lebara
Lebara specialise in SIM-only deals, either on a 30-day plan or a 12 month plan. Lebara hasn't re-introduced EU data roaming fees but they do run on the Vodafone network, and Vodafone has so it's worth double checking the deals before you purchase.
Their cheapest SIM only deal is for a 12 month plan which is prices at £4.50 a month for 3GB of data, 1000 UK minutes and texts and 100 international minutes. The offer states that it includes free roaming in the EU and India and also features a capped spend, meaning you won't get a nasty out of allowance bill.
They also offer an Unlimited data 30-day SIM only plan for £25, which also comes with unlimited UK minutes and texts, as well as 100 international minutes. Users can also get free roaming and 5G included.
BT mobile
BT haven't introduced EU roaming charges. BT customers can use their phones for free in Europe thanks to Roam Like Home, which is available to all BT Mobile customers at no extra cost.
It lets you use your minutes, texts and data allowances within BT's Roam Like Home zones without paying extra roaming charges. Currently, BT offers customers mobile plans, SIM only deals, data SIMs and family SIM plans.
As BT and EE are part of the same family, BT broadband customers can get deals on a huge range of EE mobile plans. Meaning you could get a good handset with EE, without having to pay EE's roaming charges if you're with BT via the network.
Here are some of BT's most popular deals:
- New Google Pixel 6A - BT broadband customers can pre-order now from just £24.30 per month and claim a pair of Google Pixel Buds A-Series worth £99.99.
- 4GB Data Plan - costs £13 a month for 12 months and includes 4GB of data, unlimited minutes and texts, Roam Like Home in 47 countries and access to five million BT Wi-fi hotspots.
- 40GB Data Plan - costs £20 a month for 24 months and has 4G and 5G enabled, unlimited minutes and texts, Roam Like Home in 47 countries, BT Sport app included (worth £10) and access to five million BT Wi-fi hotspots.
Asda mobile
Asda mobile customers currently don't have to pay data roaming fees in the EU. Shoppers can purchase mobile phones and SIM plans with Asda mobile. Their current offers include:
- 10GB of data for £7 with unlimited minutes and texts
- The Samsung S21 handset from £37.45 a month for 24 months
- 100GB of data with unlimited minutes and texts for £25.
Plusnet
Plusnet normally specialises in providing broadband but they offer mobile deals too. They also don't add on any extra charges for customers who want to use their phone in the EU.
Shoppers can get 18GB of data for £8 per month on their 30 day contract SIM plan. This includes unlimited minutes and texts too, as well as free data roaming. Their essential SIM only deal plan includes 5GB of data for 30 days, and comes with unlimited minutes and texts for £6 per month. Their extreme SIM only deal for 30 days contains 30GB of data, unlimited minutes and texts and free data roaming, and costs £10 per month.
Smarty
Smarty offer their customers the ability to roam free in 36 countries, meaning everything works like home, with data coming out of customer's monthly allowance or data add-ons.
Calls and texts are unlimited but users need a cash add-on to make calls and texts from EU countries to the rest of the world.
Smarty's roaming offer covers the following locations: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Comoros and Mayotte, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, French Guiana, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Réunion, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
Their SIM only deals include:
- Unlimited data for £18 a month, with unlimited calls and texts, EU roaming and no speed caps.
- 100GB data for £12 a month, with unlimited calls and texts, EU roaming and no speed caps.
- 4GB data for £6 a month, with unlimited calls and texts, EU roaming and no speed caps.
