The mobile operator EE is to charge new customers to use their phones in Europe.
image copyrightEE
Mobile operator EE will charge new customers extra to use their mobile phones in Europe from January.
Those joining or upgrading from 7 July 2021 will be charged £2 a day to use their allowances in 47 European destinations from January 2022.
EE previously said it had no plans to reintroduce roaming charges in Europe.
It is the first UK operator to reintroduce the charges since the Brexit trade deal was signed at the end of December.
Mobile networks in EU countries are not allowed to charge customers extra to use their phones in other EU countries, within fair use limits.
In January 2021, EE, O2, Three and Vodafone all stated they had no plans to reintroduce roaming charges, despite Brexit giving them the option to do so.
EE said the charges would “support investment into our UK based customer service and leading UK network”.
However, it will not charge UK customers extra to use their phones in the Republic of Ireland.
Customers travelling to the 47 affected countries will be able to buy 30-day passes to use their home tariff abroad. The cost of those will depend on which tariff customers are on.
On Wednesday, it was reported that O2 was going to reintroduce roaming charges.
However, it is merely adding a “fair use” data cap of 25GB a month and will not charge customers more to use their phones in the EU.
Fair use limits are normal and were allowed when the UK was still part of the EU. From next month, Three will be reducing its fair use limit from 20GB a month to 12GB.