VODAFONE has become the latest mobile network to reintroduce roaming charges for UK customers who travel to the European Union.
The post-Brexit blow means new and upgrading customers will have to pay up to £2-per-day to use their monthly allowance of data, calls and texts.
Roaming fees when travelling across Europe had ended in June 2017, allowing consumers to continue using their mobile plan in other EU nations at no additional cost, with a fair use limit.
Under the UK's Brexit trade agreement, both sides should "co-operate on promoting transparent and reasonable rates" for mobile charges but a guarantee on free roaming was not carried forward.
BT-owned EE was the first announce the reintroduction of roaming charges in June. Holidaymakers using Vodafone will be able to reduce the cost to £1-per-day by purchasing multi-day pass for eight or 15 days.
Those on the firm's more expensive Xtra plans will still have roaming included, while Republic of Ireland will be exempt for all customers.
Vodafone said fewer than half of its customers roamed beyond the Republic of Ireland in 2019 and the new charges will take effect in January.
"Rather than have all of our customers affected by including the additional costs of roaming into all of our tariffs, customers will be able to choose a plan that comes with roaming included, or purchase an additional roaming pass," a spokesperson said.
"Our ambition is to ensure customers don't ever experience 'bill shock' when roaming with Vodafone, because all of our plans and passes will have clear usage caps, and customers will also be able to set their own limits via Vodafone Spend Manager, which is free to set up via the My Vodafone App."
Those who remain on their existing price plan will not be affected until they make changes.
Paolo Pescatore, an analyst from PP Foresight, said consumers should fully expect others to follow suit.
"Phone users will now need to be savvier when travelling aboard," he said.
"Some will have roaming included on higher priced plans and premium devices, while others will be forced to look at switching to Wi-Fi and take out local e-sim options."
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