Roaming EU: What changed in 2017 (review of the expensive roaming period)

3. November 2025

A look back at the time before EU-wide free roaming. This changed in 2017, when roaming was very expensive even within the EU.

It has been promised for a long time and reported on in the media, but now the dream of many holidaymakers is finally set to come true. Since June 2017, roaming charges have been abolished for EU citizens throughout the EU.

Since 2017, you can use roaming free of charge throughout the EU: Calling, texting and surfing in the EU as well as Liechtenstein, Norway and Iceland costs the same as at home in Austria or Germany. However, there are exceptions where roaming surcharges may still apply. These include making calls and surfing in Switzerland, which is excluded from EU roaming.

The discussion about roaming charges within the European Union began 10 years ago. At that time, surfing and making calls abroad was like financial suicide, and vacationers often only saw the nasty surprise when they received their cell phone bill. The first cap on roaming charges was therefore decided back in March 2007. By 2016, more and more regulations and stricter caps had been defined to prevent cost explosions for holidaymakers and business travelers.

As of June 15, 2017, the time had finally come: Roaming charges are completely abolished and the EU becomes one, at least as far as cell phone charges are concerned.

What changed in roaming in the EU in 2017

Since June 15, there are no more roaming charges. Since then, only the domestic rate has been charged in the EU.

But what is still not possible in 2023: after the abolition of roaming, you could have bought a much cheaper tariff in another country and used it here, right? According to the Commission, this is - unfortunately - not possible. If a network operator notices that the customer is practically always in another EU member state, it can terminate the tariff without notice.