What is roaming data? The best UK mobile networks for travelling in the EU and further afield | Expert Reviews

While there are several solid network options that don’t currently charge you for roaming in the EU, there are still reasons to consider the networks that have recently announced the upcoming implementation of charges.

For one, you may already be with one of these networks and aren’t keen to change if you don’t have to. Alternatively, you could be tempted by some of the other perks that these networks have to offer, such as better than average 4G and 5G speeds, or inclusive entertainment packages.

Whatever the reason, we’re going to break down each of the networks that have announced roaming charges, what those charges are, and any other information that you should know before travelling abroad with them.

1. EE: Excellent speeds and packages for further afield

EE is proud of its 4G speeds, and it’s not hard to see why – the average download speeds on its 4G network came in over twice as fast as the nearest rival. Coverage for 4G is already excellent, and 5G is getting more reliable by the day in terms of availability and speeds. The other edge to this sword is that, compared to its rivals, EE tends to be quite expensive.

Still, for performance, it’s hard to look past everything that EE can offer. But what of roaming? Put simply, it’s not as good as the above networks that don’t charge you, but nor is it as pricey as roaming used to be. EE charges a flat rate of £2.29 per day to use all of the minutes, texts and data included in your plan in any of over 40 European destinations.