Britain’s road hauliers are among a fleet of UK industry sectors that are now facing surging mobile roaming charges, as they were reintroduced across Europe this month. Many firms are telling these EU roaming charges to hit the road by switching to O2 – Uplands is an O2 Direct Partner.

The road haulage and transport industry is worth £124Bn GVA (Gross Value Added) to the UK economy, with 493,600 commercial vehicles over 3.5 tonnes registered in the UK. It is, of course, an industry already under the cosh thanks to the multiple challenges of soaring fuel prices, a driver shortage and increased red tape when crossing from Britain to the EU.

Free data roaming in the EU is an integral part of O2 tariffs, so your data (subject to roaming limit), minutes, text and data allowances will work in the Europe Zone, just like they do at home. O2 users can roam using their phone across 48 destinations and call and text back to the UK at no extra cost. The O2 Europe Zone includes all EU/EAA countries and the Channel Islands, Switzerland and Monaco.

If your UK monthly data allowance is over 25GB, you’ll have a Roaming Limit of 25GB when roaming in the Europe Zone. This means you can use up to 25GB of your allowance at no extra cost – O2 will text you if you’re getting close to the limit, and again if you reach it. You can still use data if you reach our Roaming Limit, but you’ll be charged at £2.50/GB.

By contrast, as of January 2022, Vodafone UK will charge customers with monthly plans started after August 11 2021 £2 per day to roam in the EU.  Free roaming continues for earlier contracts, Data Xtra plans and for travels to Ireland.

From March 3 2022, EE will charge £2 per day to roam in 47 European locations, Ireland excluded. The new policy will apply to plans started from July 7, 2021.

Three UK announced a £2 daily fee to roam in the EEA, except for Ireland. The charge applies from May 23, 2022 for plans started or upgraded since October 1 2021.

Uplands customer CJBird Transport, a family-run firm is based in Llantrisant, South Wales, has just renewed its contract with us, and cost was a key factor in this decision. Lisa Bird, Company Director at the firm, said: “We have just resigned with Uplands for another term, because their service is great, and they have reduced our costs again. With a significant proportion of our fleet operating in the EU, along with the recent EU roaming charges increase on the Vodafone and EE networks, we simply could not consider a move away from the O2 network.”

To find out how we can help you make the switch to O2 call 0800 240000 or https://www.uplands.co.uk/contact-us/