European Union Citizens Won't Face Mobile Roaming Fees Until At Least 2032

Lawmakers in the European Union extended the regulation that prevents citizens of the bloc from paying mobile roaming fees until at least 2032.

Mobile customers don't have to worry about roaming charges when using their phones in the EU, with most phone tariffs counting calls, text, and data used in EU countries as equivalent to domestic use.

The EU decided to extend the regulation for a decade because it was due to end in July. New additions to the regulation include a requirement that citizens have access to the same services abroad in the EU as at home when the same networks and technologies are available.

The new rules aim to ensure that when similar quality or speeds are available in the visited network, the domestic operator.

To increase transparency, the updated regulation requires network providers to better inform customers about the types of services that can still incur additional costs when roaming, such as calling customer service numbers, help desks, and insurance companies. Any additional roaming charges should be sent to customers via text.

As a result of the country's exit from the European Union, this regulation will not apply to mobile customers in the United Kingdom. Most networks in the U.K. charge around $2 per day for roaming when traveling in the EU.