Three to reintroduce £2 per day EU roaming charges

Mobile operator Three has announced it's bringing back EU roaming charges for new and upgrading customers.

The move, which follows similar decisions by rival firms Vodafone and EE, will see Three customers charged £2 per day when using their mobile device within the EU.

Roaming charges were abolished in the European Union in 2017, but the benefit for British customers was not protected in the Brexit agreement the UK government signed with its European counterparts. Three had previously said it wanted to retain EU roaming at no extra cost, but that this was no longer possible under current conditions.

"We know that Go Roam has always been important to our customers and we had hoped to retain this benefit, but unfortunately there are now too many unknowns, which has made it commercially unviable for us to continue," the firm said in a statement.

"This includes variations to the underlying cost of roaming, meaning we now have no visibility over the maximum amount it will cost us to provide a service for our customers to use their phone while abroad."

From 23 May 2022, customers who have taken out a new contract or upgraded with Three from 1 October 2021 will pay a charge of £2 per day when roaming within the EU.

This will not affect pay as you go customers and those who have taken out a contract before 1 October 2021, or customers roaming in the Republic of Ireland. For those using a Three mobile device in locations outside of the EU, including the US, there will be a £5 per day charge.