Plans to keep EU roaming charges abolished known as 'Roam Like at Home' (RLAH) after Brexit transition period

Department for International Trade did not have the information requested.

Dear Department for International Trade,

During the Brexit transition period, UK mobile users can use data on their phones in Europe (EU/EEA) without any fear of getting overcharged by mobile operators, this scheme is known as 'Roam like at home' (RLAH). After the Brexit transition period it will no longer be guaranteed, therefore this has prompt me to ask you Freedom of Information questions about the issue of roaming charges coming back.

1. Will the Department for International Trade agree to a post-transition deal with the EU on retaining RLAH?

2. Will there be an EFTA style agreement with the EU on retaining RLAH?

https://www.efta.int/EEA/news/EEA-Joint-...

3. Can you release documents in relation to retaining RLAH arrangements as part of the EU-UK partnership deal?

4. Will the government legislate to keep roaming charges permanently abolished and retain 'Roam Like at Home' for UK mobile users travelling to the EU/EEA, even in the event of a no deal after the transition period?

5. Irish mobile operators will keep roaming charges abolished for Irish users visiting the UK, specially Northern Ireland. Will the government plan to keep roaming charges abolished for UK users visiting the Republic of Ireland, especially the Irish border which cause mobile users to face inadvertent roaming?

Sources
https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/ac159f...
https://www.comreg.ie/consumer-informati...

6. What are the legal protections for UK mobile users when they face inadvertent roaming at the Irish border?

7. Will the UK government open a consultation on retaining RLAH?

8. Will visitors from the EU/EEA have to pay roaming charges from their mobile network when they visit the UK?

9. Can you provide statements from mobile operators (including virtual mobile networks such as Tesco mobile, GiffGaff, etc) vowing to keep EU/EEA roaming charges abolished after the transition period?

10. Will there be a memorandum between UK mobile operators, UK government, EU government and EU mobile operators agreeing to keep roaming charges abolished and retain RLAH between EU/EEA and UK mobile users?

11. Why the UK government prefer to keep the issue of roaming charges a commercial decision for mobile operators rather than retaining 'Roam Like at Home' under UK legislation?

12. What is the purpose of roaming charges?

Yours faithfully,

Alina Forbes

FOI, Department for International Trade

Dear Alina Forbes,

 

Thank you for your request for information which was received on 14 April.
On behalf of the Department for International Trade (DIT) your request has
been passed on to the appropriate official at DIT to process and here is
your FOI reference number FOI2020/01626.

 

Your request is being considered under the terms of the Freedom of
Information Act 2000 and DIT will reply at the latest by 13 May.

 

If you have any queries about this email, please contact the Information
Rights Unit at DIT. Please remember to quote the reference number above in
any future communications.

 

Kind regards,

 

Information Rights Unit

Department for International Trade | 55 Whitehall, Westminster| London
SW1A 2HP
| E-mail: FOI[1]@trade.gov.uk

[2]gov.uk/dit | [3]GREAT.gov.uk | [4]DIT Twitter | [5]DIT
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FOI, Department for International Trade

1 Attachment

Dear Ms Forbes,

 

Please see the attached reply to your FOI request (FOI2020/01626).

 

If you have any queries, please contact the Information Rights Unit at
DIT.

 

Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future
communications.

 

Kind regards,

Department for International Trade | 55 Whitehall, Westminster| London
SW1A 2HP
| E-mail: FOI[1]@trade.gov.uk

[2]gov.uk/dit | [3]GREAT.gov.uk | [4]DIT Twitter | [5]DIT
LinkedIn | [6]Business is GREAT Facebook

 

 

References

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3. http://www.great.gov.uk/?utm_source=staf... Ctrl+Click or tap to follow the link
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4. https://twitter.com/tradegovuk
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