Do I pay extra to use my phone in other EU countries with a plan from Italy?
When you travel in another EU country, or in Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway, you use your mobile at your home prices ('roam like at home'). Moldova and Ukraine are covered as well.
With a plan from an operator in the EU or EEA, calls, texts and data in other EU and EEA countries are generally charged as at home, within fair-use limits. Other rules apply to plans from other countries; what applies with a plan from Italy is below.
📜 The rules in Italy
The details
- Your provider may apply a fair-use policy; above its limits a surcharge can apply. When you start roaming you get a free message with the fair-use limits and any surcharge. (eur-lex.europa.eu)
- Roaming may not be offered on worse terms than at home, especially in quality, if the same network generation and technology is available abroad. The rules apply until 30 June 2032. (eur-lex.europa.eu)
- Apart from a fair-use policy, a provider may add a roaming surcharge only with AGCOM's authorisation, if it shows it cannot otherwise cover its roaming costs; AGCOM has granted such 12-month authorisations, for example with delibera 17/26/CONS. (agcom.it)
- If something goes wrong, use your provider's complaint procedure first, then turn to the national regulator, AGCOM. (europa.eu)
Autorità per le Garanzie nelle Comunicazioni (AGCOM)
Telecom regulator. Its contact center answers questions and takes reports: 800.185060 from a landline, 081.750750 from a mobile or abroad, Monday to Friday 10:00-14:00.
🪜 Step by step
- Check your plan before you travelSee which countries your plan treats like home and whether it has a separate data allowance abroad.
- Read the welcome messageWhen you arrive, your operator usually sends a message with the prices and limits that apply.
- Watch the fair-use limitUnlimited or very large data plans can have a smaller allowance abroad. Above it, a surcharge can apply.
- Take care on ships, planes and near bordersThere your phone can connect to a network outside the usual roaming rules. Switch off roaming or use flight mode when in doubt.
📇 Who to contact
Sponsor this page → One labelled block, €100 a month. Founding price €75 until 31 January 2027.
❓ Questions
What does fair use mean?
Operators may limit roaming at home prices to normal travel, not living abroad for good, and may cap data abroad on very large plans.
Which countries count as home?
That depends on your plan and on where your operator is based. The rules for Italy are on this page.
Are calls back home free?
Calls home usually cost the same as at home when roaming at home prices applies. Calls to other countries can cost extra.
📎 Sources
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