O2 roaming explained for international & EU countries

O2 roaming - International roaming with O2 explained

You can roam and use O2 within most countries around the world.

You can use your regular allowance for free within 48 European countries, with a data fair usage policy of 25GB per month.

With selected O2 Refresh, O2 SIM only plans and Volt plans, you also get the O2 Travel Inclusive Zone Bolt On for free, which allows you to use unlimited data, unlimited minutes and unlimited texts in 27 international destinations outside the EU.

Alternatively, all O2 mobile customers can get the O2 Travel Bolt On for £6 per day, which gives you unlimited data, unlimited minutes and unlimited texts in 63 international destinations outside the EU.

What's the best O2 SIM for roaming?

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You can use your allowance for free within the EU with all O2 SIMs .

You can find the cheapest O2 SIM Only deals by using our comparison tools. O2 SIMs will work with all phones, including the latest Samsung Galaxy S24 and Apple iPhone 15 .

O2 EU roaming - after Brexit

With O2 Europe Zone, you can continue to roam for free and use your allowance within the EU.

O2 Europe Zone is included with all plans at no additional cost.

O2 are one of the few networks which will not introduce charges for roaming within the EU after Brexit .

In accordance with the fair usage policy, if your regular allowance is greater than 25GB, you cannot exceed 25GB per month when roaming in the EU.

If you go over your regular allowance, or you exceed the fair usage policy of 25GB per month, you will be charged £3.50 for each additional GB you use when roaming in the EU.

You must also be considered a permanent UK resident. You cannot roam within qualifying European countries for excessive or consecutive periods at a time.

You can use your allowance for free within 48 European destinations:

  • Canary Islands
  • Czech Republic
  • French Guiana
  • Isle of Man
  • Liechtenstein
  • Netherlands
  • Saint Barthelemy
  • Saint Martin
  • Switzerland
  • Vatican City

With the O2 Travel Inclusive Zone Bolt On, you will get unlimited data, unlimited minutes and unlimited texts within 27 international countries.

The O2 Travel Inclusive Zone Bolt On is included at no additional cost with selected O2 Refresh, O2 SIM only plans and Volt plans. It is not included with any 30 day SIM only plans or pay as you go plans.

If your plan doesn't include the O2 Travel Inclusive Zone Bolt On for free, you can choose it as your O2 Extra with the following plans:

There is no fair usage policy on the amount of data you can use - you get unlimited data. However, excessive usage may see your data speeds temporarily restricted.

The following 27 international countries are covered by the O2 Travel Inclusive Zone Bolt On:

  • El Salvador
  • New Zealand
  • United States

If you’re not eligible for the free O2 Travel Inclusive Zone Bolt On, you cannot pay for it. However, you can purchase the similar O2 Travel Bolt On, which covers 63 international destinations for £6 per day. See below for more information.

The O2 Travel Bolt On is available for £6 per day, and covers 63 international destinations.

Similar to the O2 Travel Inclusive Zone Bolt On, you get unlimited data, unlimited minutes and unlimited texts. However, there is a 2Mbps speed limit in place.

You can get the O2 Travel Bolt On by texting TRAVEL to 23336 or by enabling it via your O2 account.

The £6 daily fee will automatically be charged when you use mobile data, make a call or send a text message. Using Wi-Fi or receiving calls and texts will not trigger the charge.

The moment the charge is triggered, you'll have access for 24 hours, until the trigger resets. There are no limits on the amount of consecutive days you can trigger the Bolt On.

It is important to note you must enable the O2 Travel Bolt On before you use data, make a call or send a text. If you don't enable the Bolt On, you won't be charged the £6 daily fee - instead, you will be charged at a standard roaming rate, which can be expensive.

There is no fair usage policy on the amount of data you can use - you get unlimited data. However, there is a 2Mbps speed limit in place.

The O2 Travel Bolt On works in the following 63 destinations:

  • British Virgin Islands
  • Cayman Islands
  • Dominican Republic
  • Netherlands Antilles
  • Saint Kitts and Nevis
  • Saint Lucia
  • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
  • South Africa
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • Turks & Caicos
  • United Arab Emirates

What’s the difference between the O2 Travel Bolt On and O2 Travel Inclusive Zone Bolt On?

The O2 Travel Inclusive Zone Bolt On is free with selected O2 Refresh, O2 SIM only plans and Volt plans. It works in 27 international countries. You cannot buy the O2 Travel Inclusive Zone Bolt On if you are not eligible for free, however you can choose it as an O2 Extra with select tariffs.

On the other hand, the O2 Travel Bolt On is available to all pay monthly customers for £6 per day and works in 63 international destinations.

Both Bolt Ons give you unlimited data, unlimited minutes and unlimited texts. However, the O2 Travel Bolt On comes with a 2Mbps speed limit.

If you’re using your allowance for free within O2’s Europe Zone, you cannot exceed 25GB data per month if your regular allowance is greater than this amount. If you go over this limit, you will be charged £3.50 per GB until your allowance resets during the next month.

In addition, you cannot roam within the O2 Europe Zone for more than 63 days within a 4 month period - the offer is not intended for extended holidays. If O2 thinks you are abusing the free EU roaming policy, you will be given a 2 week notice, before a surcharge is applied:

The surcharge will be dropped when you return and stay in the UK for a reasonable time.

For the O2 Travel Inclusive Zone Bolt On, there is no fair usage policy on the amount of data you can use, however O2 states they may implement a temporary speed limit if your usage is deemed excessive. The O2 Travel Bolt On does not have a fair usage policy, however there is a permanent 2Mbps speed limit in place at all times.

Will I be charged if I exceed my allowance when roaming with O2?

If you exceed your data allowance or go over the 25GB limit when roaming for free in the Europe Zone, you will be charged £3.50 per GB, until your plan resets during the next month.

If you don't have an roaming Bolt On when travelling outside of Europe, or you're not in an eligible country, you will charged at a standard out of plan rate.

The out of plan rate is typically expensive, and varies between countries. For full charges, see O2 roaming rates

The following shows the O2 out of plan rates within a few international destinations.

No, 5G is only available within the UK with O2 . The maximum signal you can get when roaming with O2 is 4G.

Yes, all O2 customers can use their regular allowance for free with O2 Europe Zone, covering 48 European destinations.

Before roaming with O2 , you must enable roaming in your phone’s settings.

For Android users:

  • Go to Settings
  • Go to Connections -> Mobile networks -> Roaming
  • Enable Data roaming

For iPhone users:

  • Go to Mobile data -> Mobile Data Options
  • Enable Data Roaming

If you're roaming in the EU and go over your data allowance or the 25GB limit, you will be charged £3.50 per GB until your plan resets at the next month.

Yes, you can tether to as many devices as you like when roaming with O2 . Any regular data limitations that apply when roaming will also apply when tethering while roaming.

The O2 Travel Bolt On is available with all pay monthly plans for £6 per day. You can get the O2 Travel Bolt On by texting TRAVEL to 23336 . Alternatively, you can purchase the Bolt On through your O2 account.

The O2 Travel Inclusive Zone Bolt On is available for free on selected O2 Refresh, O2 SIM only contracts and Volt plans. You may also choose it for free as an O2 Extra, with eligible plans.

Both Bolt Ons come with unlimited data, unlimited minutes and unlimited texts. However, they each cover different destinations.

NEWS... BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT

Where is the O2 Travel Inclusive Zone? Phone provider’s data policy explained

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Young man at beach bar looking at phone

We’ve all been there – the plane lands, you whip out your phone and then feel a moment of panic over whether to turn on data roaming.

Let alone agonising over how much it will cost to call home.

Depending on your contract, and your network, using your phone on holiday can be just the same as at home – or very pricey.

It’s all got so much more complicated since Brexit , as some companies reintroduced roaming charges .

The trick is to get clued up and sorted before you go, so there are no unexpected surprises.

Because when you’re hitting the beach for some much-needed R&R , fretting about your phone bill will just pile on the stress.

So if you’re on the O2 network, what’s included – and what isn’t?

Here’s what you need to know.

Is O2 free in Europe?

Woman using smartphone against Eiffel Tower in Paris on a sunny day

In its Europe Zone, O2 contracts work as they do in the UK – so you’ll get the same number of minutes, texts and the same data allowance (up to a limit of 25GB). You can use this for up to 63 days in any four-month period – more than this will trigger a ‘fair usage’ text and after that you could be charged £3.50 per GB for data, 3.3p per minute for calls and 1p per text.

If your data allowance is more than 25GB in the UK, it will be capped at that level in Europe – you can use more, but you’ll have to pay for it.

The Europe Zone also applies to pay-as-you-go – data will come out of your allowance or be charged as it would in the UK.

Note that a handful of Europe Zone destinations on pay-as-you-go are slightly different: in Guernsey, Isle of Man, Jersey, Monaco or Switzerland, you can buy a travel bolt-on £1.99 for 100MB of data, texts are 1p and calls within these countries or back to the UK for 4p a minute.

Countries in the O2 Europe roaming zone are:

  • Canary Islands
  • Cyprus* (excluding Northern Cyprus)
  • Czech Republic
  • French Guiana
  • Isle of Man
  • Liechtenstein
  • Netherlands
  • Saint Barthelemy
  • Saint Martin
  • Switzerland
  • United Kingdom
  • Vatican City  

What’s the O2 Travel Inclusive Zone?

The ‘Travel Inclusive Zone’ is a list of 27 countries outside of the Europe Zone.

Tamarindo Beach and Estuary, Guanacaste, Costa Rica

Countries in the O2 Travel Inclusive Zone are:

  • El Salvador
  • New Zealand
  • United States

Who can get the Travel Inclusive zone?

It’s offered as a bolt-on on certain O2 Selected Plus Plans (including pay monthly and 12 and 24-month sim-only) to cover unlimited minutes, texts and data roaming in these areas (with no cap on the data).

It’s not available on 30-day sim-only tariffs or on pay-as-you-go.

What about outside the Travel Inclusive zone?

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If you’re travelling outside of the Europe Zone and do not have the O2 Travel Inclusive Zone Bolt On, then if you’re on pay monthly you can buy the the O2 Travel Bolt On for £6 a day which gives unlimited minutes, texts and data in selected destinations.

O2 has a dedicated page where you can check to see if the country you’re visiting is covered. You can add the bolt-on by texting TRAVELON to 21300.

For pay as you go, it’s not offered, so you’ll be charged international roaming rates outside of the Europe Zone.

You can check international roaming rates on O2’s dedicated page – in the US, for example, data is a whopping £7.20 per MB on pay-as-you-go, and calls cost £2 a minute to make and receive.

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O2 international roaming FAQ

archie burkinshaw author image

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 them to make the most of their mobile services while 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 customers can use their mobile phones just like they would in the UK when travelling to any of the 48 destinations within O2's Europe Zone.

Those 48 destinations are:

Canary Islands

Czech Republic

French Guiana

Isle of Man

Liechtenstein

Netherlands

Saint Barthelemy

Saint Martin

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 you have a O2 Travel Inclusive Zone included in your tariff, you're in luck. This feature provides you with unlimited minutes, texts, and data roaming privileges in 27 destinations worldwide. Among the covered locations are popular destinations like the USA, Australia, and New Zealand, ensuring that you stay connected without worry during your international adventures. The full list of destinations included in the O2 Travel Inclusive Zone can be found here.  

2. O2 Travel Bolt On

If 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. 

In the event that you're not eligible for 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.

Read more...

person using their mobile phone in the evening outside

Best network for roaming 2024 - Uswitch

All networks have their own packages for those going away either on holiday or business. Here's we break them down & find the best.

cost of o2 travel inclusive zone bolt on

What are mobile roaming and data roaming charges? - Uswitch

Using your phone while travelling overseas can result in some pretty serious charges if you're not careful. Here's what you need to know about mobile roaming and data roaming charges.

EU roaming guide - Young woman travelling by car in the mountains using smartphone

EU roaming charges explained - Uswitch

Since Brexit, UK networks have slowly begun reintroducing EU roaming charges. If you want to have access to data, calls and text during your next trip overseas, here's what you'll be charged.

cost of o2 travel inclusive zone bolt on

cost of o2 travel inclusive zone bolt on

Where is the O2 Travel Inclusive Zone? Phone provider's data policy explained

W e’ve all been there – the plane lands, you whip out your phone and then feel a moment of panic over whether to turn on data roaming.

Let alone agonising over how much it will cost to call home.

Depending on your contract, and your network, using your phone on holiday can be just the same as at home – or very pricey.

It’s all got so much more complicated since Brexit , as some companies reintroduced roaming charges .

The trick is to get clued up and sorted before you go, so there are no unexpected surprises.

Because when you’re hitting the beach for some much-needed R&R , fretting about your phone bill will just pile on the stress.

So if you’re on the O2 network, what’s included – and what isn’t?

Here’s what you need to know.

Is O2 free in Europe?

In its Europe Zone, O2 contracts work as they do in the UK – so you’ll get the same number of minutes, texts and the same data allowance (up to a limit of 25GB). You can use this for up to 63 days in any four-month period – more than this will trigger a ‘fair usage’ text and after that you could be charged £3.50 per GB for data, 3.3p per minute for calls and 1p per text.

If your data allowance is more than 25GB in the UK, it will be capped at that level in Europe – you can use more, but you’ll have to pay for it.

The Europe Zone also applies to pay-as-you-go – data will come out of your allowance or be charged as it would in the UK.

Note that a handful of Europe Zone destinations on pay-as-you-go are slightly different: in Guernsey, Isle of Man, Jersey, Monaco or Switzerland, you can buy a travel bolt-on £1.99 for 100MB of data, texts are 1p and calls within these countries or back to the UK for 4p a minute.

Countries in the O2 Europe roaming zone are:

  • Canary Islands
  • Cyprus* (excluding Northern Cyprus)
  • Czech Republic
  • French Guiana
  • Isle of Man
  • Liechtenstein
  • Netherlands
  • Saint Barthelemy
  • Saint Martin
  • Switzerland
  • United Kingdom
  • Vatican City  

What’s the O2 Travel Inclusive Zone?

The ‘Travel Inclusive Zone’ is a list of 27 countries outside of the Europe Zone.

Countries in the O2 Travel Inclusive Zone are:

  • El Salvador
  • New Zealand
  • Nicaragua 
  • United States
  • Yemen 

Who can get the Travel Inclusive zone?

It’s offered as a bolt-on on certain O2 Selected Plus Plans (including pay monthly and 12 and 24-month sim-only) to cover unlimited minutes, texts and data roaming in these areas (with no cap on the data).

It’s not available on 30-day sim-only tariffs or on pay-as-you-go.

What about outside the Travel Inclusive zone?

If you’re travelling outside of the Europe Zone and do not have the O2 Travel Inclusive Zone Bolt On, then if you’re on pay monthly you can buy the the O2 Travel Bolt On for £6 a day which gives unlimited minutes, texts and data in selected destinations.

O2 has a dedicated page where you can check to see if the country you’re visiting is covered. You can add the bolt-on by texting TRAVELON to 21300.

For pay as you go, it’s not offered, so you’ll be charged international roaming rates outside of the Europe Zone.

You can check international roaming rates on O2’s dedicated page – in the US, for example, data is a whopping £7.20 per MB on pay-as-you-go, and calls cost £2 a minute to make and receive.

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Using your phone on holiday can be pricey – know before you go (Picture: Getty Images)

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International Roaming Fees – A Guide

cost of o2 travel inclusive zone bolt on

International roaming fees can be expensive, especially if you are not prepared for them. In this blog, we will discuss what international roaming fees are and what the major UK network providers have to offer. We will also give you a few handy tips to keep costs down when travelling abroad.

If you use your mobile phone while travelling internationally (outside the EU), you will have to pay extra for making calls, sending texts and using data. This is called international roaming fees. The amount you are charged to use your phone in another country will depend on the country you are visiting and your network provider. Before you travel, it is always worth checking roaming fees with your network provider.

If you are going to be using your phone a lot while abroad, it might be worth considering an international roaming package from your network provider. These often offer inclusive calls and texts, as well as discounted rates for data usage. Here is what the major UK network providers have to offer:

cost of o2 travel inclusive zone bolt on

O2 is the only major UK network provider that still includes free EU roaming in its plans. Covering 48 destinations this is a great option if you frequently travel in Europe. For those who travel further abroad, O2 offer the following options:

  • O2 Travel Bolt On – For £6 per day, you can use data, texts and minutes according to your plan in selected destinations. O2 unlimited plans are subject to fair use policy, which with O2 is 25Gb per month when abroad.
  • With selected O2 Refresh and SIM-only tariffs, you get the O2 Travel Inclusive Zone Bolt On as part of your plan. With this you can roam in 27 international destinations at no extra cost.

For more information about International Roaming with O2, visit https://www .o2.co.uk/shop/international/using-phone-abroad

If you are a Vodafone customer who joined or upgraded on or after 11th August 2021 you will be subject to new roaming policies. Vodafone’s international roaming destinations are split into four ‘zones’:

  • Zone A: Ireland and the Isle of Man
  • Zone B: 49 European destinations
  • Zone C: 32 Worldwide destinations
  • Zone D: 73 Worldwide destinations

To use your UK plan abroad, you will have to pay a daily fee. Depending on the zone you are visiting and the plan you have, different rates may apply:

  • Most Vodafone plans come with free roaming in Zone A, but you need to pay £2 per day to use your UK plan in Zone B (Europe) and £6 per day for Zone C and Zone D
  • Limited data Xtra plan with 4 Xtra benefits – You get inclusive roaming in Zone A and Zone B, but for Zone C and Zone D you need to pay £6 per day
  • Unlimited data Xtra plan with 4 Xtra benefits – You get inclusive roaming in Zones A, B and C, but for Zone D you need to pay £6 per day
  • Vodafone Basics – The cheapest plan offers no inclusive roaming, so you will need to pay extra if you travel to any of the roaming zones

For more information about International Roaming with Vodafone, visit https://www .vodafone.co.uk/mobile/global-roaming

If you joined or upgraded with EE on or after 7 July 2021, you need to pay £2 per day when you travel within the EU. If your plan has Smart Benefits, you can choose ‘Roam Abroad’ as a benefit. This allows you to use your phone as you would in the UK without any extra charges. ‘Roam Abroad’ covers 47 EU countries as well as USA, Canada, Mexico, Australia and New Zealand.

If you do not have smart benefits, you can still buy a ‘Roam Abroad’ pass for £10 per month. You can add it to your plan and cancel it anytime which will save you from paying £2 per day if you are travelling in the EU for more than 5 days. The only downside is that it does not cover many international destinations.

For more information about International Roaming with EE, visit  

https://ee.co.uk/help/help-new/roaming-costs

cost of o2 travel inclusive zone bolt on

Three offers two ‘Go Roam’ Schemes, ‘Go Roam in Europe’ and ‘Go Roam Around the World.’ Both schemes are available on all plans except Essential Plans. For a daily charge of £2 in Europe and £5 worldwide, you will be able to access your UK plan as normal, for 24 hours. EU roaming is subject to a fair usage policy, which limits the amount of data you can use, while international roaming is not. The ‘Go Roam Around the World’ scheme covers 71 countries including USA, Australia and popular locations in South America. Three also has a Data Passport add-on which lets you use unlimited data for £5 per day. The Data Passport covers 89 destinations, some of which are not covered by the ‘Go Roam’ scheme. For more information about International Roaming with Three, visit https://www.three.co.uk/Support/Roaming_and_international/Roaming_abroad

Virgin Mobile

If you are a Virgin mobile customer on a pay-monthly plan you get free roaming in 43 EU countries. Unfortunately, Virgin does not allow you to use your UK plan outside the EU and they do not offer any add-ons to reduce the cost of international roaming. This makes Virgin an expensive option if you are travelling outside the EU. You will be charged high rates for calls, texts and data (up to £12.50 per MB) depending on where you visit. For more information about International Roaming with Virgin Mobile, visit https://www.virginmedia.com/help/virgin-media-roaming-hub

If you are a pay monthly customer with BT, their ‘Roam Like Home’ scheme allows you to use your UK plan in 47 EU countries for free. If you are travelling further afield, you can buy a ‘Travel Data Pass’ for £6 per day. This covers 12 selected countries including USA, Australia, China and India and gives you 500MB per day. For more information about International Roaming with BT Mobile, visit https://www.bt.com/products/mobile/about/data-roaming

cost of o2 travel inclusive zone bolt on

Always check with your network provider before you travel. This way you can be prepared for the costs and make sure that you do not get any nasty surprises when you get home. In addition to getting the best roaming plan from your network, here are a few tips to keep international roaming fees as low as possible:

Use a local SIM card: This is the simplest way to avoid roaming fees. You can buy a local SIM card when you arrive at your destination and use that instead of your UK SIM. This will give you a local number and you will only be charged for calls and texts made within the country. Use WiFi: Another way to avoid roaming fees is to use WiFi whenever possible. If you can connect to a WiFi network, you will not be charged for data usage. You can make calls and send messages via the internet through applications such as WhatsApp, Facebook, or Skype. Limit your mobile usage: If you are not able to use a local SIM card or connect to WiFi, then you will need to limit your mobile usage. This may mean only using your phone for essential calls and texts to avoid data roaming entirely. Turn data roaming off: You can also avoid roaming fees by turning data roaming off on your mobile phone. This will prevent you from using data while you are abroad, but you will still be able to make and receive calls and texts.

For further advice on travel bundles and add-ons, contact Comms Connect on 020 8457 2470 or visit www.commsconnect.co.uk

Happy Travels!

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How does roaming work on O2?

Jim Martin

Before you jump on a plane or a ferry, it pays to know exactly what the score is when you use your O2 (or Virgin Mobile) SIM in a country other than the UK. Do calls, text and data come out of your allowances or will you be slapped with a hefty bill just for checking Facebook?

We’ve got all the answers you need.

Can I roam on my O2 SIM?

Yes. But whether or not you’ll be charged depends upon where you’re going, how you pay and also which tariff you’re on.

O2 Travel is what you need to use your calls, text and data abroad, and you can log into your O2 account to see whether you have it as part of your package. Alternatively, dial 202 on your phone and just ask the customer service team.

To opt into O2 Travel, sign in to My O2 and then add the O2 Travel Bolt On. It doesn’t cost anything to do this: you will only be charged if you trigger the Bolt On by making a call, sending a text or using data in a country that’s outside of the Europe Zone .

Despite having removed them in 2017, following Brexit, three of the big four UK carriers reintroduced roaming charges across the EU. However, on 10 January 2022, Virgin Media O2 ‘s Chief Commercial Officer for Mobile, Gareth Turpin, confirmed that “we [Virgin Media O2] will not be reintroducing roaming fees in Europe for customers on O2 or Virgin Mobile.”

This means O2 (and Virgin Mobile) customers are in the best position, in terms of European roaming charges are concerned, as they don’t have really worry about them.

Note: Don’t forget to enable data roaming in your phone’s settings, otherwise, your apps and browsers will tell you there’s no internet connection.

Roaming in Europe

If you’re heading to Europe, great news. You don’t need to worry as your phone will work just like it does in the UK. Any calls or texts you make will come out of your normal allowance, and the same goes for data from your bundle.

Just check O2’s Europe Zone to make sure your destination country is included.

If you’re on a pay-as-you-go bundle, check out the included countries here (the list is different to the Pay Monthly list). Note that Guernsey, Isle of Man, Jersey, Monaco and Switzerland are excluded for PAYG customers. You can get 100MB of data for these destinations for £1.99 per day.

Also, note that using mobile data on a cruise ship isn’t covered, but you should be able to use the ship’s own Wi-Fi. Making and receiving calls on a ship costs £2 a minute, and sending each text costs 50p.

Roaming outside Europe

If you have a tariff that gives you free O2 Travel in the Inclusive Zone, the following countries are included and you won’t be charged for calls, texts or data as long as you don’t go over your usual allowance:

  • El Salvador
  • New Zealand
  • United States

If you don’t have free O2 Travel on your tariff, then you’ll need to opt into O2 Travel (you can also do this by texting O2TRAVEL to 23336) before you head abroad.

You’ll be charged £4.99 per day, but only on the days that you ‘trigger’ the Bolt On. That means the first call you make, text you send or data you use will start O2 Travel for that day, which runs from midnight to midnight based on the capital city of the country you’re in.

How does roaming work on O2?

What does O2 Travel include?

For your £4.99 per day, which you’ll be billed if you’re not eligible for the ‘Inclusive Zone’ or Europe, you get 120 minutes, 120 text and unlimited data.

O2 says there’s no cap on data at all, but that “speeds may vary” which, reading between the lines, means you’ll see a slow-down in your connection speed if you’re using more than the amount in O2’s fair use policy.

Is O2 good value for roaming?

Considering EE, Three and Vodafone have all reintroduced roaming charges – even within Europe – since Brexit went into effect, Virgin Media O2’s decision to abstain from reintroducing them is a huge win for customers; especially those who like to travel and are likely to find themselves hopping around Europe.

If you’re off to a destination where you can’t use your allowances, you might be able to get a better deal than the £4.99 per day charge for O2 Travel.

Pop into a phone shop – or pre-book online – and pick up a local pre-pay SIM when you arrive at your destination. This is often a way to use your phone – especially mobile data – for a much-reduced cost. Some operators even sell ‘tourist SIMs’ for exactly this reason. Do your research before you go and you could save a lot.

There are disadvantages of doing this, including the fact that people won’t be able to call you on your normal number while you’re using a different SIM. Of course, if you have a dual-SIM phone, then that’s not an issue, but do watch out if you intend to keep your O2 SIM in a phone, so people can contact you, as you might be charged for receiving calls and texts if you’re outside of the inclusive zones.

If you have SIMs with other operators, check out our other guides:

  • What you need to know about roaming on EE
  • What you need to know about roaming on Vodafone
  • What you need to know about roaming on Three

Author: Jim Martin , Executive Editor

cost of o2 travel inclusive zone bolt on

Jim has been testing and reviewing products for over 20 years. His main beats include VPN services and antivirus. He also covers smart home tech, mesh Wi-Fi and electric bikes.

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IMAGES

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  6. Solved: Inclusive Zone Bolt on vs same as an Extra

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COMMENTS

  1. O2

    If you bought a 12 month sim only tariff of 100GB and above on or after 3 September 2020, you'll be eligible for O2 Travel in our Inclusive Zone. If you are upgrading to a sim only tariff of 30GB - 99GB on or after 5 November 2020, you'll be able to choose O2 Travel in our Inclusive Zone as your Extra. If you have bought any other sim only ...

  2. Solved: O2 Travel in Inclusive Zone bolt-on

    The 50GB for £16 a month offer that I'm shown when I go to upgrade in My O2 isn't shown on the page you linked to (neither under 12 or 24 month tariffs), only the 60GB at £18, so I'm still unclear on whether the 50GB deal includes the bolt-on or not. If you look at the 12 month sim only, you will see you can get Travel Inclusive on the 20GB ...

  3. Using Your Phone Abroad → O2 Travel Search Tool

    It gives you unlimited minutes, texts and data roaming in 27 destinations outside Europe. What if I don't have the O2 Travel Inclusive Bolt On or am travelling outside the O2 Travel Inclusive Zone? If you're on Pay Monthly, you can still get our full O2 Travel Bolt On for £6 a day in selected destinations. If you're on Pay As You Go, you ...

  4. Bolt Ons

    Find information on O2's Online Pay & Go Bolt Ons and Tariff Management. With 9 different bolt ons available to help you get the most out of your mobile. ... 500MB One-off UK and Europe Zone Data. If you choose this Bolt On it will start today. £6.50 a month. Add at My O2. 1GB One-off UK and Europe Zone Data.

  5. O2 roaming explained for international & EU countries

    O2 Travel Inclusive Zone Bolt On. With the O2 Travel Inclusive Zone Bolt On, you will get unlimited data, unlimited minutes and unlimited texts within 27 international countries. The O2 Travel Inclusive Zone Bolt On is included at no additional cost with selected O2 Refresh, O2 SIM only plans and Volt plans. It is not included with any 30 day ...

  6. Using your phone abroad

    You can also select the O2 Travel Inclusive Zone Bolt-on as your Extra if your O2 Refresh tariff is between 30GB and 89GB. See our Extra terms and conditions . You get a daily allowance of 120 calls, 120 minutes and data roaming in 27 additional destinations (our Inclusive Zone) including USA, Australia and New Zealand.

  7. Where is the O2 Travel Inclusive Zone? Phone data policy ...

    Who can get the Travel Inclusive zone? It's offered as a bolt-on on certain O2 Selected Plus Plans (including pay monthly and 12 and 24-month sim-only) to cover unlimited minutes, texts and data ...

  8. What does O2 Travel Inclusive bolt on actually cover? : r/O2UK

    You get three months of "O2 Travel Inclusive Zone Bolt On". The only area of the website that even mentions Malaysia is the "O2 Travel Bolton" which has a similar name (Less the word "inclusive") but costs £6 a day. And if you're going beyond our Inclusive Zone you can still subscribe to our full O2 Travel Bolt On for £6 a day in selected ...

  9. Solved: O2 Travel Inclusive Zone Bolt On

    Good news. With our O2 Travel Inclusive Zone Bolt On, available on selected O2 Refresh and sim only tariffs, you can get inclusive data roaming in 27 international destinations. And if you're going beyond our Inclusive Zone you can still subscribe to our full O2 Travel Bolt On for £6 a day in selected destinations.

  10. Solved: O2 volt Travel inclusive zone bolt on

    O2 Travel Inclusive Zone Bolt On, as mentioned above by @Enlli, covers you for Argentina: ---. If you have the O2 Travel Inclusive Zone Bolt On, you can roam here at no extra cost. You can also use the O2 Travel Bolt On, which gives you unlimited minutes, texts and data for just £6 a day. You can opt-in to O2 Travel by texting TRAVEL to 23336.

  11. O2 international roaming FAQ

    O2 Travel Inclusive Zone and O2 Travel Bolt On. ... 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 ...

  12. Free EU Data Roaming Abroad

    If you have the O2 Travel Inclusive Zone bolt-on, you can roam here at no extra cost. O2 Travel is available here, which gives you unlimited minutes, texts and data for just £6 a day. You can opt-in to O2 Travel by texting TRAVEL to 23336. And you'll only be charged for the days you use it. If you don't have the O2 Travel inclusive Zone bolt ...

  13. Solved: o2 travel inclusive zone bolt on

    27409 Solutions. Registered: 04-04-2012. Options. on ‎01-07-2023 11:26. @Roshni1. It's applied as a bolt on automatically if your tariff is eligible. Check bolt ins in your myo2. I have no affiliation whatsoever with O2 or any subsidiary companies. Comments posted are entirely of my own opinion.

  14. Where is the O2 Travel Inclusive Zone? Phone provider's data ...

    Who can get the Travel Inclusive zone? It's offered as a bolt-on on certain O2 Selected Plus Plans (including pay monthly and 12 and 24-month sim-only) to cover unlimited minutes, texts and data ...

  15. Plus Plans

    With a Plus Plan, you can also roam at no extra cost in the O2 Travel Inclusive Zone. Countries in include USA, Mexico, Canada, New Zealand, Argentina and Australia. ... O2 Travel Inclusive Zone bolt-on (average cost £2pm - calculated over 36 months), (ii) O2 Switch Up (usual cost £3.99pm - calculated over 36 months), (iii) an additional ...

  16. Understanding Volt Benefits

    O2 Travel Inclusive Zone, where you can roam in 75 destinations at no extra cost. View your supercharged data allowances and O2 Travel Inclusive Zone Bolt On in My O2. Plus, if you take out a phone on a new O2 Custom Plan you can get big savings on your Airtime and double data.

  17. Solved: Activate Travel Inclusive Zone Bolt On

    Registered: 14-01-2013. Options. 24-02-2022 08:35 - edited ‎24-02-2022 08:37. @neza. If it's there as a bolt on in your My O2, you don't need to do anything. It means you already have it, you don't need to order it. It will be activated when you enter a Travel Inclusive Country.

  18. International Roaming Fees

    O2 unlimited plans are subject to fair use policy, which with O2 is 25Gb per month when abroad. With selected O2 Refresh and SIM-only tariffs, you get the O2 Travel Inclusive Zone Bolt On as part of your plan. With this you can roam in 27 international destinations at no extra cost. For more information about International Roaming with O2 ...

  19. How Does Roaming Work on Virgin Media O2?

    To opt into O2 Travel, sign in to My O2 and then add the O2 Travel Bolt On. It doesn't cost anything to do this: you will only be charged if you trigger the Bolt On by making a call, sending a text or using data in a country that's outside of the Europe Zone.. Despite having removed them in 2017, following Brexit, three of the big four UK carriers reintroduced roaming charges across the EU.