Europe : 3 customers are set to make serious savings on international roaming rates as the network announces its new EU rates.  Following the recent EU announcement capping mobile roaming prices in Europe from 30th August, 3 is slashing prices below what the new EU law requires. From 30th August, 3 customers travelling to EU countries will pay just 25p per min to make a call to any standard UK landline or mobile and just 10p per min to receive a call wherever they are in the EU.  This compares with the capped EU Eurotariff of 38p per min to make a call and 19p per min to receive a call*.

3’s new pricing structure, which is 34% cheaper to make calls and 47% cheaper than the EU Eurotariff to receive them, will apply to all customers, whether they’re on Pre-Pay or Contract deals.  Charges for SMS messages will be fixed at 25p per text.  

Kevin Russell, chief exec 3 UK said:  "We’re excited. This is a great opportunity to remove another barrier between consumers’ expectations and the reality of mobile pricing.  We've always believed there’s room to bring prices down and the EU has given us a level playing field to achieve it.

 European consumers deserve a dramatically improved roaming experience without the fear of inflated bills when they return home.   Mobile phone users in the UK and across the EU have been subjected to unreasonably high charges  for too long.

 We support the  EC's aim is to create a level playing field for consumers across the EU.   Our pricing will mean there is now no  difference when you call a UK  mobile phone  outside your bundle  on another network  whether you are in the UK or  any of the  27  EU countries. 

 This is great for consumers and it will  be good for business.   Our experience so far this year with our 3 Like Home roaming offer, shows we can expect a significant rise in call volumes as customers enjoy the benefits of reduced pricing across  our European network.”

The announcement comes six months after the successful introduction of 3Like Home, the revolutionary new tariff that abolished roaming charges for 3 customers when visiting countries with a 3 sister network. The tariff, which applies to calls made to the UK from Ireland, Italy, Austria, Hong Kong, Australia, Sweden and Denmark, enables 3 customers to use their existing minutes, text and data bundles without accruing any additional charges. It also ensures customers aren’t charged for receiving calls when abroad in a 3 sister country. Following 3’s Europe-wide price cuts, the 3Like Home tariff will continue to automatically apply for all 3 customers when they roam onto the 3 network in a 3 sister country.