There’s still a long way to go before the UK has comprehensive 5G coverage, but already some networks let you roam abroad with 5G.
However, not all do at the time of writing, and the availability of 5G roaming is limited, though that’s sure to change over time.
To help you get up to speed we’ve created this guide, covering exactly what 5G roaming is, which networks offer it, where it’s available, and everything else you need to know about it.
What is 5G roaming?
5G roaming means using 5G when outside the UK. It’s the same idea as the 4G or 3G data you’ll often have been able to get when touching down in another country, just faster, because other countries are also upgrading their infrastructure to support 5G, and that means – with the right roaming agreements in place – you’ll be able to tap into that infrastructure when travelling.
Which networks offer 5G roaming?
At the time of writing only O2, Vodafone, VOXI, iD Mobile, Asda Mobile and Talkmobile definitely offer 5G roaming. VOXI is owned by Vodafone, so it’s no surprise that it offers this (and in the same places as Vodafone), as mentioned in the 5G section of this page, but it is notable, because it’s a small name and is offering a premium feature before most of the major players.
Talkmobile is also owned by Vodafone, so again the fact that it offers 5G roaming isn’t overly surprising. We have to caveat this network though as 5G roaming doesn’t appear to be mentioned on its site – but a customer service agent assured us it was offered.
Asda Mobile isn’t owned by Vodafone but does use Vodafone’s infrastructure, so its 5G coverage when roaming is the same too.
iD Mobile uses Three’s network in the UK, which interestingly doesn’t advertise 5G roaming, but nevertheless this is available on iD Mobile.
Then there’s EE, which doesn’t advertise 5G roaming but many users of the network have reported getting 5G when abroad. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean they’re getting full 5G speeds, so we’d take that with a pinch of salt until it’s confirmed by EE – there’s also no clear list of where 5G is available when abroad on EE.
We expect the likes of Three (alongside probably more MVNOs) will start offering 5G roaming at some point, just as most currently offer 4G roaming in some places, but when and where remains to be seen.
It’s worth noting though that other networks may in fact already offer 5G roaming and just not have advertised it yet.
Where can I roam on 5G?
Vodafone, VOXI, Asda Mobile and Talkmobile let you roam over 5G in at least 344 European locations at the time of writing. These are towns and cities in Germany, Spain, Italy and Ireland, a partial list for which can be found here.
However, major locations with 5G roaming include Berlin, Cologne, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Munich, Stuttgart, Barcelona, Benidorm, Madrid, Malaga, Seville, Bologna, Milan, Naples, Rome, Turin, Cork, Dublin, Galway, Limerick, Waterford, and others.
O2 offers 5G roaming in numerous European destinations, such as France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Austria, Greece, and more. Check your destination on this page to see if 5G is available where you need it.
iD Mobile offers 5G roaming in parts of Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy (including San Marino), Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, and Ukraine.
Those are all places where roaming is inclusive on iD Mobile, but you can also roam using 5G speeds in numerous countries where you have to pay extra to roam, including the US, Australia, and more. Check out iD Mobile’s full 5G roaming location list here.
EE – if it truly offers 5G roaming at all – hasn’t publicised a list of locations, but users claim to have got 5G in the likes of the US, Spain, Ireland, Greece, Switzerland, Canada, Finland and Sweden.
Note however that as with 5G in the UK, coverage in most of these places won’t initially be comprehensive.
What speeds will I get when roaming on 5G?
No networks have confirmed exactly how fast 5G will be when roaming, but it will depend largely on the infrastructure in the country, and will therefore likely vary a little from country to country.
That said, it should be very fast wherever you are. In the UK, 5G speeds also vary by network, but tend to average somewhere between around 100Mbps and 200Mbps in tests, with peak speeds potentially exceeding 1Gbps. So similar results should be feasible when roaming.
When does 4G roaming come into play?
4G roaming (and 3G roaming) is what you’ll use when you’re on a network or in a location that doesn’t offer 5G roaming.
Your phone should automatically connect to the best network type available to you in any given location, so it’s not something you need to think about too much. But suffice it to say if your phone’s status bar says ‘4G’ while you’re roaming then you won’t be getting as high speeds as with 5G, and if it says ‘3G’ then they’ll be slower still.
Does 5G roaming cost extra?
5G roaming doesn’t cost more than 3G roaming or 4G roaming, but some networks charge to roam at all.
On O2, Asda Mobile, iD Mobile, and Talkmobile, roaming comes as standard, while on Vodafone and EE you’ll have to pay to roam on most plans, and on VOXI roaming always costs extra.
Vodafone is charging £2.25 per day to roam in its European roaming zone – or £1 per day if you pay for fifteen days upfront.
However, plans taken out before August 11th, 2021, won’t be subject to this charge, and nor will plans that have ‘Xtra Euro Roam’ or ‘Xtra Global Roam’ in the name.
VOXI charges the same amount as Vodafone, and doesn’t offer any plans which avoid that charge.
EE charges £2.29 per day to roam in Europe, unless you have a Roam Abroad pass, which comes with some plans or can be added for £25 per month. This also lets you roam in the US, Canada, Mexico, Australia, and New Zealand.
Roaming policies
Vodafone and O2 let you use your full standard text and minute allowances when roaming, and up to 25GB of data. On VOXI, data is capped at 20GB when roaming, iD Mobile allows 30GB, Asda Mobile has just a 5GB limit, and Talkmobile also limits you to 5GB. Finally, EE caps you at 50GB.
For reference, Three’s fair usage limit is 12GB and O2’s is 25GB, but of course these two networks don’t appear to offer 5G roaming at the time of writing.
Conclusion
Right now, if you want to use 5G abroad, then your main options (other than signing up with a temporary local network in the country you’re in) are O2, Vodafone, VOXI, Asda Mobile, iD Mobile, or Talkmobile. Locations differ a bit between them (though they should be identical on Vodafone, Talkmobile, VOXI, and Asda Mobile), but O2, Asda Mobile, iD Mobile, and Talkmobile arguably have the edge by offering free roaming as standard.
EE may also offer 5G roaming, but that’s unconfirmed, and also doesn’t come free as standard.
The availability of 5G roaming will change over time, but if 5G speeds when abroad are a big deal to you, then that could be reason enough to sign up with one of the above networks.
FAQs
Can I get unlimited data when roaming?
None of the major networks allow you to use unlimited data when roaming, as they all have fair usage policies, the least restrictive of which is EE at 50GB. However, Tesco Mobile doesn’t advertise specific caps at the time of writing, so they may support this, but you should check with the network directly to be sure.
Can I roam when travelling by ship or plane?
Yes, however there are a few things to be aware of. First of all you may not always be able to get a signal, as the vehicle you’re in could often be out of range. Secondly, if you’re passing through multiple countries then you need to be careful not to get stung with data charges for countries where you’re not offered free roaming.
Also, there may be a local network on board the plane or boat which your phone might connect to if you allow roaming. This won’t be covered under free roaming and could be expensive – so check the terms and pricing of the network on board before connecting.
Are there differences when roaming inside and outside the EU?
At the time of writing most UK 5G networks only offer 5G roaming within the EU, if at all. Though there are exceptions to that, such as iD Mobile.
Beyond that, EU roaming is free on some UK networks (though most have their own fair use limits), whereas outside the EU it’s variable. But in most non-EU countries on most networks, you won’t get free roaming. It’s always worth checking the roaming terms for your destination before you travel.
