June 28, 2025, 1:52 pm | Read time: 8 minutes
Since June 15, 2017, the EU roaming regulation has been in place, with a revised version effective since July 1, 2022, aimed at avoiding cost traps. However, travelers abroad still need to be aware of pitfalls and special conditions–otherwise, they risk a high phone bill.
For a long time, making calls or surfing the internet with a mobile phone in the EU was expensive. This changed with the abolition of roaming charges within the EU. Since mid-June 2017, the extra fees for using a mobile phone abroad have largely been eliminated. Although the initial regulation expired at the end of June 2022, a revised version came into effect in July 2022 and remains in force. For travelers, this means they can use their plan–whether prepaid or postpaid–in the EU almost as they would in Germany. But there are exceptions–TECHBOOK explains.
Overview
Roam like at home–what does it actually mean?
Whether simply “EU roaming” or “roam like at home” (RLAH)–both terms appear in the detailed information of most current mobile plans in Germany. They refer to the EU regulation for temporary mobile phone use in other EU countries.
Within the 27 EU member states, the basic conditions agreed upon in the mobile contract are available just as they are at home. So if users have a contract with an all-net flat rate, they can make calls within the travel country or to other EU countries, including Germany, without additional costs while on vacation. The same applies to plans with inclusive units, which are deducted from the booked quota just like in the home network. For connections beyond that, customers pay the same costs as they would at home. The additional fee previously charged by providers for connections outside Germany is thus eliminated. Providers are also not allowed to charge fees for incoming calls abroad.
However, this regulation does not apply to all plan components. Services offered exclusively within the network by the operators are excluded from the EU regulation. An example is community flat rates, which only cover calls and SMS within the same network.
Tip: Check the details of your mobile plan for use abroad carefully. For some providers, the roaming regulation also applies in countries that are not actually part of the EU. For example, Deutsche Telekom’s MagentaMobil plans include roaming in Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Telefónica allows users of its O2 Free plans to use them free of charge in Iceland, Norway, and Liechtenstein as well. With Vodafone, EU roaming is possible in the Red plans within the 27 EU member states as well as in the United Kingdom, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway possible.
Also interesting: What is VoLTE for mobile phones and how do you use it?
Beware! Distinguish between roaming and international calls
There is an important point that often causes confusion among users. It makes a difference whether they call from Germany to abroad or from abroad to Germany or other EU countries. One is an international call, the other is roaming. These connections are billed very differently.
The rule of thumb is: If a traveler does not use their home mobile network but that of another EU country, they are roaming. However, if they call a friend from Germany who is in another country, it is an international call. These are not part of the EU roaming regulation. Providers therefore bill these connections according to a different, often significantly more expensive tariff model.
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Mobile phone use abroad: What you should pay attention to
Before you go on vacation, you should check which roaming regulation for abroad is agreed upon in your mobile plan. Some plans exclude use abroad or only allow it after a certain period following the contract’s start. Providers may also have alternative roaming options where the regulated EU roaming does not apply. This is especially true for plans concluded before June 2017. If you still use such a contract, you can usually switch to the regulated EU tariff for free.
Even if the EU tariff applies as prescribed, there are special cases that users abroad should definitely be aware of.
Fair-Use Policy
You may have noticed that mobile plans in Germany are often significantly more expensive than abroad. It might seem tempting to book a cheaper plan from Austria or Italy and use it in Germany. Customers would then roam here, which is possible without extra charges thanks to the EU roaming regulation. However, the EU Commission has put a stop to this practice with the Fair-Use Policy. It excludes “excessive or permanent roaming use.” This means that if customers use a plan continuously for several months in the EU, providers are entitled to charge surcharges for SMS, calls, and data.
These surcharges are, however, limited. Since July 2022, providers can charge the following surcharges:
- 0.022 euros per minute for voice calls plus VAT
- 0.004 euros per SMS plus VAT
- 1.30 euros per gigabyte in 2025 (2026: 1.10 euros; 2027 until June 30, 2032: 1.00 euro)
Special case: Unlimited plans
There are now several mobile plans with no data throttling, allowing users to surf the internet without limits. However, this is only possible in Germany. Within the EU, the so-called data cap comes into effect, limiting the use of unlimited data plans.
The amount of data available abroad depends on the plan price and the current cap on roaming wholesale prices. Customers can calculate their foreign data allowance using the following formula:
(Monthly price divided by wholesale price) x 2
In 2025, the roaming wholesale prices will be 1.55 euros per gigabyte (net price without VAT: 1.31 euros). They have significantly decreased over the years. Based on the formula, the calculation for Telekom’s MagentaMobil XL is as follows:
Telekom MagentaMobil L: (39.95 euros / 1.55 euros) x 2 = 51.55 GB, rounded to 52 GB per month
In the coming years, wholesale prices per gigabyte will continue to decrease. The following prices will apply in Germany (with 19 percent VAT):
- 1.31 euros per gigabyte from January 1, 2026
- 1.19 euros per gigabyte from January 1, 2027, until presumably June 30, 2032
Cost trap: Cruise
Going on a cruise abroad can turn into a real nightmare on your phone bill. On the high seas, neither the regulated EU roaming tariffs nor the alternative roaming options or cost caps of providers apply. Instead, mobile connections are made via satellite and corresponding GSM base stations on the ships.
Before the trip, travelers should find out which satellite network operator is responsible for internet access on the cruise ship and what costs are incurred for use. Even incoming calls often incur high fees.
If the ship is near a port, the phone may connect to the mobile network of the respective country. On international cruises, travelers quickly find themselves in world zones 2 and 3, where high fees for data and calls apply. On board a ship, travelers should therefore avoid using mobile phones and completely turn off roaming on their devices.
To still allow ship travelers to access the internet, cruise lines often offer their own packages. For example, Wi-Fi packages can be booked, but they are often very expensive. For 250 MB, 25 euros can quickly be charged.
Read also: What changes in roaming after Brexit
Roaming in Switzerland can be expensive
Unlike in the EU, where “roam like at home”–and thus the same prices as within Germany apply, calls made from Switzerland with your own mobile phone can cost nearly two euros per minute, depending on the provider. Incoming calls are cheaper, but at around 25 cents or 75 cents, they can still add up.
To protect yourself from the costs of often background data transfers, you should disable the roaming option on your smartphone when staying or passing through Switzerland. A text message that appears automatically when you connect to the Swiss mobile network upon crossing the border will reveal how high the costs can be.
Alternative: Foreign prepaid card
If your travel destination is outside the EU, the EU regulation (usually–exceptions in provider options apply!) does not apply. In this case, travelers can either book alternative roaming packages for different world zones with their provider, which are designed for short internet use and are usually quite expensive. Or they can buy a prepaid card locally in the travel country. Then they can make calls and surf at local rates, which is usually the cheapest option. Especially if they stay in the country for at least a week.
Such prepaid SIM cards are available, for example, at airports, in hotels, or in local mobile phone shops. The staff there are usually very helpful and happy to provide advice. Knowledge of the English language is helpful in these consultations.
Read also: Vodafone launches worldwide data option–but a cost trap looms
For those who want to be on the safe side, foreign SIM cards can also be ordered online before the trip. They are already registered and set up, so travelers only need to insert the SIM into their phone upon arrival abroad. However, various online sellers usually charge an extra fee for this service. Users thus pay a bit more for the plan than on-site. A cheaper alternative is plans that are realized via eSIMs, which are flexible and quickly bookable.