The telecom regulator, CNMC, has issued Vodafone Spain a 10-day ultimatum to rectify the amount of mobile data included in its prepaid roaming plans after an investigation prompted by a user complaint revealed non-compliance with European regulations.

In November 2023, Vodafone informed its prepaid plan customers via SMS about changes to the mobile data allowances for roaming within the European Union.

In late 2023, Vodafone Spain announced a reduction in the amount of free-roaming data available to prepaid customers traveling within the European Union (EU). Effective December 4, 2023, the new limits were as follows:

• S rate, S voice, and yuser plans: reduced from 10GB to 6 GB.
• M rate, Superyuser, and Big yuser plans: reduced from 14GB to 8 GB.
• L rate, Megayuser, and Heavy yuser plans: reduced from 19GB to 11 GB.
• XL rate: reduced from 28GB to 16 GB.
• XXL rate: reduced from 37GB to 22 GB.

A customer, suspecting that the new limits violated European roaming rules, filed a complaint with the regulator. The CNMC (Comisión Nacional de los Mercados y la Competencia) conducted an analysis and confirmed that the data allowance was significantly below the legal threshold.

Under the European Union’s “just like home” roaming regulation, calls and data must cost the same across Europe as in the user’s home country. However, operators are permitted to implement fair usage policies on the cheapest rates to prevent misuse. The regulation specifies a formula to calculate the allowable data volume, which includes a minimum of 2 GB, and sets the price per GB once the limit is exceeded. Currently, this price is €1.30 per GB, with annual reductions planned until it reaches €1/GB by 2027.

No Prepaid Plans Comply with Roaming Regulations

According to the CNMC’s calculations, when Vodafone reduced the roaming data limit to 6 GB in 2023, it should have been 10.66 GB. Applying the formula to the 2025 GB price, the limit should have been 12.71 GB. However, Vodafone’s website currently states that the S prepaid plan includes only 7 GB for European roaming.

While the CNMC’s report does not explicitly address other prepaid plans, applying the same calculation reveals that none of Vodafone’s prepaid rates meet the regulatory requirements. Below is a comparison of Vodafone’s advertised roaming data allowances versus the EU-mandated limits:

The CNMC has given Vodafone 10 days to outline the adjustments it will make to bring its prepaid plans into compliance with EU regulations.