Tips to help reduce French mobile roaming fees when abroad
Risk of high costs during ferry trips highlighted
Published
French telecoms operator Orange has published a guidance sheet explaining how travellers can avoid unexpected mobile phone charges while abroad.
Reports from French media outlets have also highlighted unexpected data roaming costs incurred by travellers between France and the UK on ferry services.
Although Orange’s document promotes its own Pass Voyage products, which provide subscriptions covering mobile phone and internet use overseas, the general advice is also relevant to customers of other French operators.
Since the EU introduced limits on roaming charges, French mobile phones can be used to make calls from countries within the European Economic Area (EEA, comprising the EU, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein) at the same cost as calls made in France to French numbers.
For most customers, data used within the EEA is charged on the same basis as in France, subject to operators' fair use policies.
The “excessive use” exemption to free EU roaming may apply if customers spend extended periods outside France, so those planning to do so should check their operator’s policy.
Despite being outside of the EU/EEA, the UK is included in Orange’s ‘Zone Europe’ and treated as other European counterparts.
Comparable rules apply across France’s three other main mobile network operators, with the UK typically included as part of the ‘European Zone’ and not charged additional fees for mobile phone usage.
For travellers to the United States, Orange subscribers face roaming charges, including €13.31 per MB of data, 55c a minute to receive calls and €1.18 a minute to make them.
Receiving SMS messages is free, while sending one costs 28c. Receiving an MMS costs 80c and sending one costs €1.10.
Customers travelling outside the EU/EEA are strongly advised to switch off mobile data unless they have subscribed to Pass Voyage or a comparable service.
The recommended alternative is to use a WiFi connection and make calls through messaging applications such as WhatsApp. Note however there are risks when connecting to public WiFi networks, particularly when abroad in an unfamiliar location.
Travellers are also advised to check the cost of using their mobile phone abroad before departure.
Knowing the probable cost of mobile use may help customers avoid unnecessary charges by limiting usage to essential calls and services.
It is also recommended that users disable automatic updates for both their phone's operating system and individual apps while abroad, as updates can consume large amounts of data and result in substantial bills.
Orange's travel advice sheet is available here.
Rival telecoms companies offer similar services
Customers should if their own provider offers products comparable to Pass Voyage.
Free, for example, recommends subscribing to its highest-priced Forfait Free Max plan at €29.99 per month when travelling.
It offers data roaming in 140 destinations, as well as calls and SMS messages in 65 destinations.
The subscription can then be switched back to the customer’s usual package on their return.
Similar services are offered by SFR and Bouygues, aimed at those taking holidays outside of France who only need to be covered for short periods of time.
Be careful when on ferries
French television reports have highlighted the importance of either switching off mobile phones when boarding a ferry to the UK or, for those who prefer not to do so, ensuring the device is placed in flight mode.
France 3 Hauts-de-France reported on French travellers heading to the UK who failed to take these precautions and later returned home to what it described as “telephone bills saltier than the Channel itself.”
According to the report, bills of around €120 were not uncommon.
The charges were incurred even by some customers who believed their ‘all-inclusive’ mobile subscriptions covered the journey.
However, these subscriptions do not account for the switch from land-based mobile networks to the non-terrestrial maritime networks used on ferries once they move beyond the range of terrestrial signals, typically a few kilometres from the coast.
Unlike land-based networks, maritime networks are not subject to the same EU and UK regulatory framework and can set their own charges.
Most mobile operators offer settings that block connections to networks not covered by a customer’s subscription, and users are advised to activate this option to help avoid unexpected charges.
This advice for ferry travel also applies to UK mobile phone contract holders heading on a ferry to France, as similar charges may apply.
In general, few UK mobile phone contracts include data roaming in France/the EU, meaning similar costs will be incurred as for French travellers heading to the UK. Check your contract before travelling, and see if you can avoid charges by adding temporary overseas policies to your contract, or by using an eSIM.
