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O2 introduces free roaming in the US, Australia with new Refresh tariffs
The move represents O2’s first major extension of its free roaming proposition into non-EU countries, and it’s hard to not see it as the Telefonica-owned carrier’s response to the popularity of Three’s Feel at Home scheme.
Three’s rival offering currently boasts four fewer destinations in total, but doesn’t cap your usual allowances even if you’re abroad. O2, meanwhile, restricts travelers to 120 minutes and 120 texts per day, although it doesn’t apply a cap to international data usage.
The increased free roaming coverage will be available to customers on select O2 Refresh tariffs and other eligible contract deals. This includes the newly announced flexible contract deals which give consumers the option of raising or lowering their allowances (and bills) each month between 1GB and 50GB plans.
UK networks are currently required under EU law to offer free roaming in EU locations. With Brexit on the horizon, however, there are growing concerns that carriers will reinstate roaming fees once the UK officially leaves the EU.
Read more: Where to buy phones in the UK: Unlocked and on-contract
So far, only Three has promised to keep offering free roaming in Europe. When the folks at Gizmodo asked O2 the same question in light of its recent roaming expansion, a spokesperson said: “We currently have no plans to change our roaming services across Europe. We’re engaged with the government with regards to what may happen once the UK officially leaves the EU.”
Below is the full list of newly added O2 Travel Inclusive Zone regions:
- Argentina
- Australia
- Botswana
- Canada
- Chile
- Colombia
- Costa Rica
- Ecuador
- El Salvador
- Greenland
- Guatemala
- Guinea
- Guyana
- Honduras
- Madagascar
- Mexico
- Myanmar
- New Zealand
- Nicaragua
- Panama
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Rwanda
- United States
- Uruguay
- Venezuela
- Yemen
What do you think of O2’s new proposition? Are you now rushing out to book a holiday to any of the above countries? Let us know in the comments.