Early in 2021, it was announced that one of the things to change for Brits looking to travel throughout Europe would be the right to roam as roaming charges would be returning to mobile networks with an almost immediate impact.
All of the favourite forms of content would see a charge return with those hoping to partake in their favourite online options at oddsninja.com, stream their favourite movies through digital platforms, or listen to music ? all with a substantial cost once more. Given heightened tensions in other parts of Europe, it was somewhat expected that the same may follow after the June 30th, 2022, date which would mark the end of the right to roam scheme throughout the rest of Europe, but with renewed calls to see roaming options continue, the scheme will be renewed for a further decade.
The initial decision was made back in 2017 with the elimination of roaming surchargers from the big telecoms companies ? offering the same quality of service as they’d receive back home, it was certainly one of the best changes to come for those who travel regularly and something that was greatly taken advantage of ? it looks like there will be further efforts to improve this service too in the coming decade with calls to end surcharges for calls throughout Europe too but this looks to be a waning problem with internet calls becoming more popular and traditional phone calls becoming less common.
There’s still a chance that this could be struck down though, it has been informally agreed upon and endorsed, but The Industry, Research, and Energy Committee are still to vote on it in a coming meeting but given the big support it’s expected to move through without being blocked at all. Given the ever-increasing usage of mobile data and the seeming requirement to always be online for all walks of life, ensuring that this is in place has moved from something that may have been seen as an optional extra previously to something a bit more mandatory and pressing, particularly with the change seen in 2016 with the UN general passing a resolution that declared internet access a human right. This likely won’t be the last stretch of news that emerges around the “roam like at home” approach as there may certainly be some push back closer to the date given there’s still some time before the current legislation expires, but definitely good news for those hoping to see this option expanded and continued well into the future.
