3 UK increases some international roaming rates from 16 February ⋆

3 UK increases some international roaming rates from 16 February

3 UK has announced changes for some of its standard PAYG rates in the UK from 16 February 2021. Some international roaming rates are also increasing, with the operator insisting this is not the result of Brexit but to keep them in line with domestic standard rates. More about 3 UK roaming rates below.

From 16 February 2021, Three’s existing pay-as-you-go (PAYG) customers will see standard prices rise both in the UK and when using Three’s ‘Go Roam’ service in European countries:

The cost of making a phone call will rise to 10p/minute, from 3p/minute ( a 7p/minute or 233% increase)
It will cost 10p to send a text, up from 2p at the moment (an 8p/text or 400% increase)
Data costs will also shoot up to 5p/MB, from 1p/MB at the moment (a 4p/MB or 400% increase)

If these customers use their phone elsewhere around the world, excluding the UK and Europe, costs will also rocket by the following:

It will cost 35p to send a text, up from 2p at the moment (a 33p/text or 1,650% increase)
Data costs will also shoot up to 5p/MB, from 1p/MB at the moment (a 4p/MB or 400% increase)

Three believes its new rates “remain extremely competitive” and adds that the increases to international roaming rates are to keep prices in line with its new standard rates for using your phone at home, and aren’t linked to Brexit. It was one of the major mobile providers that committed to continuing free EU roaming following the end of the Brexit transition period on 1 January 2021.

Which customers will see prices rise? 3 uk roaming rates

February’s increase affects Three’s existing pay-as-you-go (PAYG) customers who joined the network before March 2020 and who pay standard rates, rather than paying for a package. The mobile provider refused to tell us how many people will be impacted but says everyone affected will be contacted. A 2019 financial report from Three reveals that it has a total of 10.2 million UK customers across its network.

New PAYG customers who signed up from March 2020 are already being charged these higher prices.

Three’s PAYG add-ons and data packages, which the firm says provide better value than its standard rates, won’t be changing, and neither will its pay-monthly prices.

Free mobile roaming in European Union countries is no longer guaranteed as the Brexit transition period has now ended. Under the ‘Roam Like At Home’ rules introduced by the EU, you could use your UK allowance of minutes, texts and data without paying any extra charges in the EU plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, subject to ‘fair usage’ rules. 3 uk roaming rates