Staying connected while travelling abroad can be tricky and often costly. However, O2 has one of the most extensive international roaming policies of the UK's major networks – helping you make the most of your mobile services overseas.
EU roaming without charges
One of the standout features of O2's international roaming policy is its commitment to providing EU roaming without additional charges. Currently, O2 is the only major network operator that has continued to offer EU roaming without fees for data, calls, and texts up to 25GB.
This means you can use your mobile phone like in the UK when travelling to any of the 48 destinations within O2's Europe Zone.
Those 48 destinations are:
Austria
Azores
Belgium
Bulgaria
Canary Islands
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
French Guiana
Germany
Gibraltar
Greece
Guadeloupe
Guernsey
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Isle of Man
Italy
Jersey
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Madeira
Malta
Martinique
Mayotte
Monaco
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Reunion
Romania
Saint Barthelemy
Saint Martin
San Marino
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
United Kingdom
Vatican City
O2 Fair Usage Limit
To ensure international roaming remains fair for all users, O2 has implemented a Fair Usage Limit (FUP). This limit is designed to prevent continuous and excessive use of services outside the UK in its Europe Zone.
Customers can use O2's services for periodic travel, such as holidays or short breaks. However, if you use O2’s services outside the UK in the Europe Zone for 63 or more days within any four-month period – and cannot demonstrate significant use or presence in the UK – charges may apply after two weeks. The charges for Pay Monthly customers include £3.50/GB for data, 3.3p/minute for calls, and 1p/text.
Roaming limits for O2 tariffs
The roaming limits differ based on the customer's monthly data allowance:
Tariffs with more than 25GB of monthly data: Customers with a UK monthly data allowance exceeding 25GB will have a roaming limit of 25GB within the Europe Zone. Once the limit is reached, customers can still use data, but they will be charged £3.50 per additional gigabyte until they return to the UK, use up their UK data allowance, or reach their next bill cycle.
Tariffs with 25GB or less of monthly data: These tariffs are not subject to the 25GB roaming limit within the Europe Zone. However, customers who exhaust their UK data allowance while roaming abroad will need to purchase a data Bolt On to continue using data.
What's included and not included
O2's international roaming policy includes making calls and sending texts within the Europe Zone (excluding the UK), receiving calls and texts in the Europe Zone, and using your monthly data allowance while in the Europe Zone.
However, it does not include making calls or sending texts from the UK to countries outside of the UK, making calls or sending texts to premium rate numbers, directory service numbers, and some non-geographic numbers.
Additionally, mobile broadband tariffs are only valid for use within the UK, and mobile data usage while on a cruise ship is subject to separate charges.
O2 Travel Inclusive Zone and O2 Travel Bolt On
For travellers seeking even more extensive coverage and flexibility, O2 offers a couple of options:
1. O2 Travel Inclusive Zone
If your tariff includes an O2 Travel Inclusive Zone, you're in luck. This feature provides unlimited minutes, texts, and data roaming privileges in 27 destinations worldwide.
Popular destinations like the USA, Australia, and New Zealand are among the covered locations, ensuring that you stay connected without worry during your international adventures. The full list of O2 Travel Inclusive Zone destinations can be found here.
2. O2 Travel Bolt On
If the O2 Travel Inclusive Zone isn't part of your current plan, you can still enjoy communication while abroad by adding the O2 Travel Bolt On to your account. For £6 per day, Bolt On grants you unlimited minutes, texts, and data roaming access in 63 destinations worldwide. To explore the full list of destinations covered by the O2 Travel Bolt On, follow this link.
3. Virgin Media O2’s Volt
If you have a Virgin Media broadband connection and an O2 mobile contract, you can access the Inclusive Zone at no extra cost in all Plus Plans and Volt bundles, which allows you unlimited data, texts and calls in 27 international destinations as well as in Europe.
If you're not eligible for the O2 Travel Inclusive Zone and haven't opted for the O2 Travel Bolt On, or you find yourself roaming in a destination not encompassed by these services, O2's standard roaming rates will apply.
