Brexit and roaming, what changes for Italians traveling to the UK
The Brexit has had clear consequences for the relationship between the United Kingdom and the countries of the European Union. A process [...]
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The Brexit has had clear consequences for the relationship between the United Kingdom and the countries of the European Union. A process that has involved a variety of aspects of the daily lives of citizens, both those who intend to leave the UK territory and those who want to set foot in it, for pleasure or business.
One of these aspects concerns the roaming within the EU. Some U.K. telephone operators have initiated a review of their plans. Something to be expected, although assurances to that effect had initially come. Roaming would be protected, it was said, but it appears that things will be different. So the question remains, what will happen to the British? Will the same happen for Italians and other member citizens? And, for the more distracted, what is roaming?
What is roaming
Let's start with the most distracted, those who have probably heard about roaming in recent years, have complained previously about incredibly high rates outside Italian borders, but have never delved into the subject.
Roaming refers to the process of making full use of one's tariff plan even outside their own country, Where there is no infrastructure of their telephone operator.
Being able to take advantage of this convenience came at a distinctly high cost, and for years there was talk of abolishing it, at least within the European Union. This took place in the 2017, a year in which people first experimented with using their national tariffs beyond the borders of their own country. It was a satisfactory first test, to say the least, which then gave way to a substantial change. In 2018, in fact, one found oneself realizing how calls and text messages were included in the package, while the Giga for web surfing had a limit (well below the national one).
An abolition not of 100 %, then, but still satisfactory. An incredible step forward, superior even to that concerning the tax paid for years with every phone top-up. Will all this fade before the eyes of the British people?
The post Brexit roaming
As mentioned, some British phone companies have decided to go back on their promises (not in writing, mind you). The first company to come forward in this regard was. EE. The announced changes will be implemented gradually, relating mainly to 2022. Anyone who should decide to change plans, as well as new customers, will have to pay 2 pounds (2.30 euros, approximately) for each day spent in the EU territory and beyond. In fact, the list includes as many as 47 countries from which Ireland is excluded.
The price goes up for O2, which will charge an additional fee of £3.50 per Giga downloaded in the EU (maximum limit of 25 gigabytes), starting Aug. 2. Unchanged rates, however, for Three, which, however, reduced the ceiling of freely downloadable data. It was reduced from 20 gigs to 12.
Roaming in Italy?
Will Italian customers also have to fear a renegotiation of their phone plans? Will the roaming nightmare peep over here too? For the time being, operators active in the EU territory have not struck a blow in this regard.
Roaming will not, therefore, be among the changes to get used to in preparation for a trip to the United Kingdom. Some users feared a move by Vodafone, the main telephone operator across the Channel. A brand that bridges the two countries, but may wait until next year to reassess the status quo. By the June 30, 2022, in fact, agreements made in 2017 will have to be renegotiated. It is impossible to say what the outcome of that confrontation will be.
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