UK customers will face the return of roaming charges within the EU in the even of a no-deal Brexit.
Background: In preparation for the UK’s exit of the European Union, government and parliament are adopting legislation to reflect the new status of the country. Some of the hundreds of laws requiring adjustment relate to electronic communications.
What are the provisions? The ‘Mobile Roaming (EU Exit) Regulations 2019’ amends existing EU legislation and the UK regulations that implement it. The rules remove requirements to guarantee ‘surcharge-free’ roaming, since the UK will have no control over wholesale rates. The rules retain a financial limit (£45, conversion of €50 per month) after which users should confirm whether they want to pay for additional roaming. Transparency obligations are also retained: operators need to inform users when they reach 80% and 100% of their allowance.
What could happen next? The provisions need to be approved by 29 March 2019, when the UK will leave the EU. However, limits on wholesale rates will fall away regardless. Operators will probably try to minimise the increases in roaming prices, but they are unlikely to be able to avoid them altogether, unless the UK and EU reach a deal.
