The EU ‘Roam like at home’ rules do not apply when calling or sending a text message to another EU country when you’re at home in the Republic of Ireland. This is not roaming but is instead an ‘intra-EU’ communication. The cost to Irish consumers for making a call or sending a text from Ireland to a fixed or mobile number in another EU Member State is capped. This means that the cost will be no more than 19 cent (plus VAT) per minute for a call and 6 cent (plus VAT) per text message.
International rates apply when you make a call or send a text message to a non-EU country. You should be aware that the prices for these calls and text messages are not regulated and so they can be expensive. They can also vary depending on the country you are contacting.
We have put together four examples of some common mobile phone scenarios and the charges associated with each of these. These examples can be used as a reference point to help you to understand some of the ways you might use your phone and what the charges will be, if not included in your bundle:
| Example: | Where are you? | The charge you will have to pay: |
|---|---|---|
| Phoning a local restaurant while on holiday | I am on holiday in France and call a local restaurant to make a dinner reservation | You will be on the ‘Roam like at home’ tariff |
| Phoning home from abroad | I am on holiday in France and call back home to Ireland | You will be on the ‘Roam like at home’ tariff |
| You are at home and phoning an EU country | I am at home in Ireland and make a call to France | This is an intra-EU call and you will be charged the intra-EU call rate |
| You are at home and phoning a non-EU country | I am at home in Ireland and make a call to the USA | This is an international call and you will be charged an international call rate |