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The roaming rules are a bit complicated. It seems that only a fraction of the data plan can be made available under "free roaming" rules. I suspect operators w

The roaming rules are a bit complicated. It seems that only a fraction of the data plan can be made available under "free roaming" rules. I suspect operators will make their money back from "I forgot to turn off roaming" to "I took too much from my roaming data".

tgsovlerkhgsel 9y ago
There are caps after that, which are not significantly higher than what many national providers charge within the country.
axplusb 9y ago
My plan currently allows 5GB of roaming data per month, which under my current consumption pattern (I don't travel much more than a couple of times a month) is plenty.
ArmandGrillet 9y ago
I don't think so, carriers are quite clear about their conditions. E.g. even if you're not French you can understand on this webpage that you have 40GB/month, included in Europe, for 24,99€/month: https://shop.sosh.fr/mobile/forfaits-mobiles https://shop.sosh.fr/mobile/forfaits-mobiles
- johnchristopher 9y ago
  Those prices are insane compared to Belgium. It goes to show why carriers lobbied so hard to prevent European citizens to buy subscriptions from a different country considering roaming would truly create European competition between carriers. Keeping in mind Dutch,French and Belgian carriers are sometimes one and the same entity it shows liberalism and free market is only promoted and applied when it benefits the strong (carriers), not the weak (consumers). It's still a very good and welcomed evolution for consumers though :).
  - rocqua 9y ago
    Cross country competetion would really suck because of the varying levels of wellfare across the EU. Between Belgium France and the Netherlands, there isn't much of a problem. However, if you start comparing e.g. the Netherlands with Romania, things get weird. Those consumer markets are vastly different, Romania is much cheaper. I'd expect that, due to differing expectations of infrastructure building a network in Romanio would also be cheaper.
    - johnchristopher 9y ago
      Good point even though I still think I am being ripped when comparing to France.
Someone 9y ago
Operators have to inform you when they start charging for roaming, and cannot start charging before you have been informed (https://ec.europa.eu/digital-single-market/en/faq/frequently-asked-questions-roam-home https://ec.europa.eu/digital-single-market/en/faq/frequently..., questions 17)
rmc 9y ago
FYI EU telecos have to cut you off if you spend more than €60 in a month in roaming fees, unless you explicitly opt out. Most people won't think of opting out, so it means their roaming costs are capped.

tgsovlerkhgsel 9y ago

There are caps after that, which are not significantly higher than what many national providers charge within the country.

axplusb 9y ago

My plan currently allows 5GB of roaming data per month, which under my current consumption pattern (I don't travel much more than a couple of times a month) is plenty.

ArmandGrillet 9y ago

I don't think so, carriers are quite clear about their conditions. E.g. even if you're not French you can understand on this webpage that you have 40GB/month, included in Europe, for 24,99€/month: https://shop.sosh.fr/mobile/forfaits-mobiles https://shop.sosh.fr/mobile/forfaits-mobiles

johnchristopher 9y ago
Those prices are insane compared to Belgium. It goes to show why carriers lobbied so hard to prevent European citizens to buy subscriptions from a different country considering roaming would truly create European competition between carriers. Keeping in mind Dutch,French and Belgian carriers are sometimes one and the same entity it shows liberalism and free market is only promoted and applied when it benefits the strong (carriers), not the weak (consumers). It's still a very good and welcomed evolution for consumers though :).
- rocqua 9y ago
  Cross country competetion would really suck because of the varying levels of wellfare across the EU. Between Belgium France and the Netherlands, there isn't much of a problem. However, if you start comparing e.g. the Netherlands with Romania, things get weird. Those consumer markets are vastly different, Romania is much cheaper. I'd expect that, due to differing expectations of infrastructure building a network in Romanio would also be cheaper.
  - johnchristopher 9y ago
    Good point even though I still think I am being ripped when comparing to France.

Someone 9y ago

Operators have to inform you when they start charging for roaming, and cannot start charging before you have been informed (https://ec.europa.eu/digital-single-market/en/faq/frequently-asked-questions-roam-home https://ec.europa.eu/digital-single-market/en/faq/frequently..., questions 17)

rmc 9y ago

FYI EU telecos have to cut you off if you spend more than €60 in a month in roaming fees, unless you explicitly opt out. Most people won't think of opting out, so it means their roaming costs are capped.