{"id":108845,"date":"2019-07-04T13:42:11","date_gmt":"2019-07-04T13:42:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.comreg.ie\/?p=108845"},"modified":"2019-07-31T08:11:46","modified_gmt":"2019-07-31T08:11:46","slug":"roaming-in-the-eu","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.comreg.ie\/ga\/roaming-in-the-eu\/","title":{"rendered":"Roaming in the EU"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>Since June 2017, Irish consumers travelling within any EU country have been able to use their mobile phone to &#8216;Roam like at home&#8217;.<\/h2>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>This means that you can make and receive calls, and send and receive text messages in the same way you do when at home in the Republic of Ireland.\u00a0 It doesn&#8217;t matter which mobile network that you are connected to.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4>The EU countries where you can &#8216;Roam like at home&#8217;:<\/h4>\n\n<table id=\"tablepress-62\" class=\"tablepress tablepress-id-62\">\n<tbody class=\"row-striping row-hover\">\n<tr class=\"row-1\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Austria<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Finland<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Liechtenstein<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">Slovakia<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-2\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Belgium<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">France<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Lithuania<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">Slovenia<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-3\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Bulgaria<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Germany<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Luxembourg<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">Spain<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-4\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Croatia<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Greece<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Malta<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">Sweden<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-5\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Czech Republic<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Hungary<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Norway<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">The Netherlands<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-6\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Cyprus<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Iceland<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Poland<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">United Kingdom<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-7\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Denmark<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Italy<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Portugal<\/td><td class=\"column-4\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-8\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Estonia<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Latvia<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Romania<\/td><td class=\"column-4\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<!-- #tablepress-62 from cache -->\n<p>As Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway are part of the European Economic Area they are also covered by the &#8216;Roam like at home&#8217; rules.<\/p>\n<p>Similarly, you can also use some or all of your data allowance while roaming in the countries listed above.\u00a0 In some case, mobile providers will allow you to use your full data allowance while roaming.\u00a0 In other cases, providers are putting in place a &#8216;fair-usage policy&#8217;.\u00a0 This limits the amount of data you can use from your domestic bundle.\u00a0 Your domestic bundle is the normal phone service package that is included in your phone contract when you are at home.<\/p>\n<p>Mobile providers decide these limits based on your domestic bundle and the type of contract (bill pay or prepay) and data allowance it includes.<\/p>\n<p>The amounts below are the most you can be charged when roaming in the EU and you have used up your domestic bundle:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>3.2 cents per minute of voice call made (plus VAT)<\/li>\n<li>1 cent per text message (plus VAT)<\/li>\n<li>\u20ac4.50 per gigabyte (GB) of data (plus VAT).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>You may be unsure what your roaming data allowance is, but your mobile phone provider will confirm this for you by text when you arrive at your EU destination.\u00a0 You can also check this allowance in advance of travel by contacting your mobile provider.<\/p>\n<h3><\/h3>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3>What alerts can I expect to receive when roaming in the EU?<\/h3>\n<p>There are a number of text messages or text alerts that you can expect to receive from your mobile provider when you roam within the EU.\u00a0 Pay attention to these alerts as they will provide you with important information and help you to manage your roaming usage.<\/p>\n<h4><\/h4>\n<h4>When you arrive<\/h4>\n<p>When you arrive at your EU destination, you will receive a text message from your mobile provider.\u00a0 This sets out the various costs that will apply while you are roaming.\u00a0 It will include any extra charges for using your phone outside your normal at-home plan allowances.<\/p>\n<p>It will also specify the amount of data you can use from your at-home allowance and any charge that will apply if you use more than this.<\/p>\n<p>This text message should also include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>a free phone number for your mobile provider that you can use if you need to call for more information<\/li>\n<li>the number for the emergency services in the country you are visiting.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4><\/h4>\n<h4>When you have used up your allowance<\/h4>\n<p>When you have used up your data allowance, you will automatically receive a text message telling you how much more you will have to pay if you continue to use data services.\u00a0 You will then be asked to confirm if you wish to continue data roaming.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3>How much data am I likely to use?<\/h3>\n<p>There are 1,000 megabytes (MB) in 1 gigabyte (GB).<\/p>\n\n<table id=\"tablepress-63\" class=\"tablepress tablepress-id-63\">\n<thead>\n<tr class=\"row-1\">\n\t<th class=\"column-1\">Activity<\/th><th class=\"column-2\">Duration<\/th><th class=\"column-3\">Data Usage<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody class=\"row-hover\">\n<tr class=\"row-2\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Browsing on Social Media<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">1 hour<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Approximately 90MB<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-3\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Streaming TV<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">1 hour<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">A typical Standard Definition (SD) streaming television service can use up to 700MB.  High Definition (HD) uses  up to 3GB and Ultra HD uses up to 7GB<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-4\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Live Streaming<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">1 hour<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">A typical hour of live TV streaming will use around 540MB of data for SD and 1.8GB for HD content.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<!-- #tablepress-63 from cache -->\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4>If you continue roaming when your allowance is used up<\/h4>\n<p>If you choose to continue roaming after using up your data roaming allowance, you will also receive alerts when you have reached 80% and 100% of a \u20ac50.00 plus VAT (or \u20ac61.50 including VAT) spend.\u00a0 This is based on a monthly billing period.<\/p>\n<p>You will automatically receive these alerts unless you have requested not to receive them.\u00a0 When you receive the 100% warning text message, you will have to opt-in by return text message to continue to use data services.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4>Be careful to watch your roaming<\/h4>\n<p>However, be warned, if you do continue to use the service, the mobile provider does not have to send you any more alerts about how much you are spending.<\/p>\n<p>In summary, these are the text message alerts you can expect to receive when roaming in the EU:<\/p>\n\n<table id=\"tablepress-64\" class=\"tablepress tablepress-id-64\">\n<tbody class=\"row-striping row-hover\">\n<tr class=\"row-1\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Text 1<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Welcome message telling you how much data you can use when roaming without paying anything extra<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-2\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Text 2<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Message telling you when you have used up your data allowance<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-3\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Text 3<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">A message telling you when you have spent \u20ac49.20 (including VAT), which is 80% of \u20ac61.50, on data<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-4\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Text 4<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">A message telling you when you have spent \u20ac61.50 (including VAT) on data<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<!-- #tablepress-64 from cache -->\n<p>Please remember to take the necessary precautions to limit or control your roaming usage.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3>Alternative roaming tariffs<\/h3>\n<p>Some mobile providers offer discounted roaming rates when travelling to certain countries.\u00a0 These are known as &#8216;alternative roaming tariffs&#8217;.\u00a0 Your mobile provider will automatically charge you the &#8216;Roam like at home&#8217; prices unless you choose to opt for one of their alternative roaming tariffs.<\/p>\n<p>Depending on your individual contract or mobile plan these alternative roaming tariffs may be cheaper or more expensive.\u00a0 You can choose the roaming tariff plan that best suits your roaming needs.\u00a0 If you are unsure which one is the most suitable, your mobile provider should be able to help you with this.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3>Next week&#8217;s consumer news item<\/h3>\n<p>In next week&#8217;s consumer news item we will continue our roaming advice series and provide you with some useful information on roaming outside of the EU.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3>See also last week&#8217;s news item on roaming<\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"\/using-your-mobile-phone-abroad-roaming\/\">Using your mobile phone abroad<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Since June 2017, Irish consumers travelling within any EU country have been able to use their mobile phone to &#8216;Roam like at home&#8217;. &nbsp; This &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.comreg.ie\/ga\/roaming-in-the-eu\/\"><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":47,"featured_media":108846,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","footnotes":"","_wp_rev_ctl_limit":""},"categories":[73],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-108845","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-consumer-news"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.comreg.ie\/ga\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/108845","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.comreg.ie\/ga\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.comreg.ie\/ga\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.comreg.ie\/ga\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/47"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.comreg.ie\/ga\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=108845"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.comreg.ie\/ga\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/108845\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.comreg.ie\/ga\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/108846"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.comreg.ie\/ga\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=108845"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.comreg.ie\/ga\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=108845"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.comreg.ie\/ga\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=108845"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}