Will roaming in Europe become more expensive when we leave the EU?

What will Brexit mean for European travellers?

Now that the dust has settled on last week’s Brexit vote, we can start thinking about the possible consequences of the UK leaving the EU.

One question that springs immediately to mind is whether it’ll cost us more to roam in Europe.

Before Brexit, the news on EU roaming charges was all good. They fell significantly, and are being scrapped altogether next year.

But is Brexit going to change all that for UK citizens?

Will leaving the EU mean more expensive roaming charges?

When we leave the EU, we definitely won’t benefit from their deal to scrap roaming charges. But who knows? A similar UK-only deal could be made.

And don’t forget, British network operators would no longer have to comply with EU law. So they’ll be able to charge whatever they want (and even abolish charges altogether) for roaming in Europe.

When are the changes likely to happen?

Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union provides a two-year negotiation period for a member state that wants to leave. During this period, the UK will remain subject to EU treaties and laws – including the legislation on roaming charges.

So our advice is this - expect to benefit from the EU abolition of roaming charges in 15 June 2017, and keep watching The Lowdown for the latest news.