From 1 January 2025, the European Union will make roaming more accessible with new reductions in wholesale data costs. This means more GB to use abroad and even cheaper rates for calls and SMS in EU and European Economic Area (EEA) member countries.
Let’s see what changes and how to calculate the GB available in 2025.
Introduced in 2017 and renewed in 2022“Roaming like at home” allows users to use their national tariff plan even abroad, without additional costs for calls, SMS and data, as long as the use complies with the “correct use” rules. This means you can navigate and communicate as you would in Italy, as long as it is occasional trips and not for prolonged or residential use.
But be careful: i GB available in roaming is not unlimitedand are calculated based on a formula that takes into account the cost of your phone plan and the EU wholesale price per GB.
The EU has planned a progressive reduction in the wholesale price of GB, which in 2025 will be 1,30 eurodown compared to 1,55 euro of 2024. This trend will continue until 2027when the cost will be set at 1 euro and will remain stable until 2032.
Here are the next steps:
- January 1, 2025: €1.30 per GB
- January 1, 2026: €1.10 per GB
- January 1, 2027: €1 per GB
The official formula to calculate how many GB you can use when roaming is:
Available GB = (Monthly phone plan cost excl. VAT / Wholesale cost per GB) x 2
Let’s take a practical example:
- Offer in Italy: €7.99 per month for 150GB.
- Cost excluding VAT: 7,99 € / 1,22 = 6,55 €.
- With the cost of GB wholesale in 2025 (1,30 €):
(6.55 / 1.30) x 2 = approximately 10 GB.
So, in 2025, a €7.99 per month plan will allow you to use 10 GB in roaming nell’UE.
Exceeding the amount of data available when roaming does not mean being without a connection. The cost extrasoglia in 2025 it will be even lower:€0.00154 per MB (VAT included)as compared to 0,00189 € from 2024.
Translated into practice, it means that you will be able to continue browsing at a very low cost even beyond the threshold included in your plan.
Rates for calls and SMS in roaming are also further reduced:
- Voice calls: Yes 0,022 €/min (2022-2024) a 0,019 €/min in 2025.
- SMS: Yes 0,004 €/SMS (2022-2024) a 0,003 €/SMS in 2025.
This makes roaming even more convenient for frequent travelers in Europe.
The EU’s initiative to make roaming more accessible is a concrete example of how technology and regulation can make the lives of millions of people easier. It’s not just about saving, but also about break down barriers for those traveling for work or pleasure, making our continent more connected.
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Source: www.iphoneitalia.com
