With the European Commission mandating that all roaming charges for travelers within the EU be scrapped by June 2017, carriers in the UK are already starting to implement the Commission’s new legislation, with over a year still to go until the deadline. Vodafone has now become the third carrier in the U.K. after Three and Tesco Mobile to do away with roaming charges within the EU, and its Pay Monthly 12 & 24 month Red and Red Value bundle plans now include free roaming in as many as 40 countries across the region, including major tourist hubs, like Spain, Germany, France and Greece. Tesco Mobile, by contrast, offers 31 ‘Home from Home’ destinations, while Three allows free roaming in 19 ‘Feel at Home’ countries.
According to the press release from Vodafone, the carrier is offering unlimited calls and texts without any extra charges while roaming, but data will be capped at just 4 GB, even with the 12 GB Red Value plan. Those on the 8 GB Red Value bundle, meanwhile, will get just the 2 GB of inclusive data, which is in stark contrast to Three, which is offering a substantially higher 12 GB limit with its unlimited all-you-can-eat data plans. Either way, for millions of Vodafone subscribers, the carrier’s latest offering is still nothing to be scoffed at especially if people are planning to spend their summer vacations abroad without having to return home to gigantic mobile bills that is reported from time to time.
Meanwhile, even as Vodafone has done away with roaming charges in dozens of EU destinations, one uncertainty continues to prevail over how long Brits will get to enjoy free roaming across the EU. That’s because the ‘BREXIT’ movement in full swing in the country, with influential proponents like the charismatic and flamboyant (now former) Mayor of London, Mr. Boris Johnson, being one of its biggest and most outspoken proponents. Of course, it remains to be seen whether the U.K. remains within the EU or decides to go its own way, but for now at least, U.K. residents will be able to enjoy free roaming in many of the EU countries, at least as long as they’re on Three, Tesco or Vodafone.