EU Roaming rules: call from abroad to foreign number

There's something that's not yet clear to me about the new EU rules about roaming.

Let's say that I have an Italian phone number. If I call a German phone number from Italy with my Italian phone number I'm not covered by the new rules as I'm not roaming.

But if I go to Germany and with my Italian number I call a German number is that going to be considered roaming or it's going to be the same as the previous situation (call to German number from Italian number in Italy)?

eu roaming

Best Answer

Moo's answer, although elaborate, interprets the rules in a misleading way. There is one simple rule:

When you are roaming within the EEA and placing a call to an EEA country, it's always billed as if it was a domestic call in the "home country" of your SIM.

Thus while you're in Germany, any call from your Italian SIM to any EEA country (be it Germany, Italy or Spain) is considered a domestic call, just as if you were calling an Italian number while in Italy.

This is also explained in the official FAQ:

For example: If you have a Belgian card and you travel to France and call either a hotel in France, back home to Belgium, or to any other country in the EU and the EEA, you are roaming, and you will pay Belgian internal domestic prices.

https://ec.europa.eu/digital-single-market/en/faq/question-and-answers-roaming

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Can I call with international roaming?

When using most mobile phones, you can call the United States or another country while traveling abroad by dialing: The plus sign + The country code of the country you are calling.

Are calls between EU countries free?

When you travel outside your home country to another EU country, you don't have to pay any additional charges to use your mobile phone.

Do I get charged if I call someone abroad?

If you're within your home network country, you shouldn't be charged for receiving a call from someone abroad. However, if you're not within your home network country, check with your provider to see if they offer roaming services.

Can I make phone calls in Europe?

Your normal plan may already include international coverage, as T-Mobile's does. It's a fairly painless process: Confirm that your phone will work in Europe. Nearly all newer phones work fine abroad (as do older phones purchased through AT&T and T-Mobile), but it's smart to check with your carrier if you're unsure.

Calling International Numbers | How to Dial Abroad

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