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Roaming Changes from 15th June 2017 “CONTRACT ONLY”
PAY AS YOU GO Info https://community.o2.co.uk/t5/Pay-Monthly-and-Pay-Go/Roaming-Changes-from-15th-June-2017-PAY-AS-YOU-...
From the 15th June 2017 all EU networks have to offer “free” roaming from one EU country to another (Only when roaming in another EU Country other than your own, for us this would be UK.)
However there a number of things that people need to be made aware of and what it all means to them.
Which Countries are included in the new rules from the 15th June 2017
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Austria |
French Guiana |
Latvia |
Reunion Islands |
|
Azores |
Germany |
Liechtenstein |
Romania |
|
Belgium |
Gibraltar |
Lithuania |
Saint Barthelemy |
|
Bulgaria |
Greece |
Luxembourg |
Saint Martin |
|
Canary Islands* |
Guadeloupe |
Madeira |
San Marino |
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Croatia |
Guernsey |
Malta |
Slovakia |
|
Cyprus* |
Hungary |
Martinique |
Slovenia |
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Czech Republic |
Iceland |
Monaco |
Spain* |
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Denmark |
Ireland |
Netherlands |
Sweden |
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Estonia |
Isle of Man |
Norway |
Switzerland |
|
Finland |
Italy* |
Poland |
Vatican City |
|
France* |
Jersey |
Portugal* |
*Canary Islands include Tenerife, Lanzarote, Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura
*Spain Includes, Majorca, Minorca and Ibiza.
*France includes Corsica.
*Italy includes Sardinia.
*Portugal includes Madeira
*Cyprus ** Southern Cyprus only is part of the EU
**Northern Cyprus is Turkish and therefore normal rates will apply. Unless you have o2 Travel
Terms and conditions here on o2 Travel
https://www.o2.co.uk/termsandconditions/mobile/o2travel-paymonthly-terms-and-conditions
More info on O2 Travel here
https://www.o2.co.uk/shop/international/using-phone-abroad
There may be other little Islands that I could have missed, but if you are not sure, please ask.
The EU only brought the law in if you were roaming in another EU country then to call another EU country. Ie Roaming in Southern Ireland back to Northern Ireland. This will come out of your allowance if you have one or any left.
You can call people in the EU as long as they are registered with a UK network. Ie you are calling a friend in Spain but there network is Vodafone in the Uk, this is classed as a normal call to you as you are not ringing a foreign number
Ringing any foreign number like Southern Ireland from Northern Ireland ie +353 and then the number is classed as a international number. If your in Souther Ireland and calling a Southern Ireland number, then it is covered as long as you have mins etc.
Note if you are calling a friend / family who live on Isle of Man and Channel Islands and have a SIM card from one of their networks there. Then you will be charged as this is classed as international roaming from the UK as they don’t have UK networks.
it can get a little confusing
Now this is one of the myths that people are miss understanding “Free” or “No Extra Charges”
When you are roaming in one or the above places, you now take you own home UK free allowance. This is Mins, SMS and DATA.
So lets say For example, you only have 500 MINS, 1000 SMS and 500mb of data, then this is all you would be able to use before charges apply before your next billing date.
But what if I’ve already used some Mins from my 500 MIN allocation – Then you can only use what you have left before charges apply.
You always need to check the MY o2 app or O2 Website for uptodate allowences and any charges you may have incured.
I have Unlimited Mins and SMS – Then Fair Usage policy applies in one of the above Countries. “O2 Reserve the right for removing the service and making you pay for any charges if you abuse the service”
What is included with Mins and SMS
You can call/SMS the country you are visiting (Or one of the above countries) and back to the UK.
It’s the same with what you can use your MINS/SMS for now.
Premium Calls/SMS are chargeable as they would be in the UK, so would 0845, 0870 and other Chargeable numbers as per the UK list
If you are making calls to family and friends etc. and as long as you wouldn’t be charged when you would call them in the UK, then you will be fine for when you are roaming in above country
Data Services Abroad - Currently O2 has 4G roaming in 22 countries as of the 31st July.
These are Spain, Germany, Czech Republic, Isle of Man and Australia.
We know in Germany it’s with O2-DE.
4G in Spain is probably be on Telefonica?
4G in Czech Republic is probably be on O2-CZ
4G in Isle of Man may be on Manx Telecom? As Telefonica used to own them.
4G in Australia. Not sure on this one? Note this is not part of EU roaming. Only a for 4G availability.
If any one knows could you please PM me and I will update the info. Thanks
You can find the remaining countries that have 4G roaming here.
All other networks you connect to overseas will either be 3G or 2G so Data may be slower than it is in the UK.
You can use all the services as you would do normally in the UK, but O2 won’t guarantee the speed or if the services will work.
Data speeds will also be slower in Peak Season
More info can be found on o2 key facts page regarding Speeds overseas
https://www.o2.co.uk/sites/default/files/2017-07/traffic_management.pdf
How much Data is included – At present, you are able to use all your free Data Allowance in any of the above Countries. So if you have a 20GB allowance in the UK, you can use either all or what is ever left, when you visit one of the above places. You are also able to buy Extra Data if you run out just as you would be able to in the UK and its the same price and bundle as you would buy in the UK too.
Picture Messages are chargeable as they would be in the UK, check your own contract for charges as there not all the same price.
O2 Travel Inclusive – If traveling outside of Europe you may want to consider the O2 Travel Inclusive bolton which gives you inclusive data roaming in 27 international destinations.
Why all of a sudden for the changes.
The EU made it law that Mobile Networks in the EU were to abandon charges to each other for Mobile customers when overseas. It’s been about 10 years in the making with charges being slowly wiped out over the last 10 years.
However there are caveats and if your own Mobile network thinks you are abusing the service then they can remove it and charge you for everything when roaming.
The services is for when you are going on holiday or short breaks. If you are going to be in a country for longer than a month or 2 then this is not classed a holiday or short break, so you need to be careful or you could receive a bill. O2 will SMS you first if this is about to happen and I would suggest you speaking to O2 customer care on 202 (Free from abroad on you o2 mobile) to verify or check anything.
I can see countries that are not a part of the EU or are EEA.
Norway, Liechtenstein, Iceland – Are part of the EEA, but are included in the No Extra cost roaming from O2.
Switzerland is not part of the EU / EEA, but O2 have included this (Not for PAYG)
Monaco, Isle of Man, Jersey and Guernsey are again included (But not on PAYG)
More Info on Roaming from the 15th June can be found here
http://www.o2.co.uk/help/pay-monthly/roaming-in-europe
To Learn more about Roaming it self, visit here
For any Roaming charges visit here https://www.o2.co.uk/shop/international
** Please remeber that this is a customer forum run buy the Public so we would not be able to answer any billing questions etc, but alot of people on here including my self are very knowledgable on Roaming, so for any questions please ask.
There are no stupid questions ask, if you have to ask it then we have either not covered it, or we may have not made it clear some where else.
*** Please note that the above information was correct as of 29th May 2017, it is your responsability to always check for the correct information and or charges that may apply ***
Versions
5th Feb 2018 - Slight changes to wording, added 1 4G roaming country and added little info regarding Cyprus and Turkey. Links to o2 Travel + Terms and link to KFI
19th March 2018 - Added the info for 5x 4G roaming countries and a few tweeks in wording
We also do not know what will happen when we leave the EU. but while we are still in Europe the above will apply.
Current info in what all networks are saying regarding roaming in EU after Brexit or when we leave the DSM (Digital Single Market)
Website below
https://fullfact.org/europe/roaming-fees-brexit/
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