Back in 2007, I was staying in Italy for several months and I made use of the Vodafone passport scheme. However, despite the offer, my bills involving calls to the UK and from the UK were still costly. However, I discovered THREE mobile had a deal whereby when using the THREE networks in certain countries, the calls to and from the UK, along with text messages, were included in the UK tariff. I jumped on the band wagon with this and had a new THREE mobile delivered – my bills plunged! Alas, the offer was withdrawn a couple of years later, but on the 30th August 2013, the offer returned again. FREE roaming was available in seven countries where THREE had its own networks, such as TRE Italia and THREE Australia. This later went on to become the THREE Feel at Home service.
The present offering from the THREE network is called Three Feel at Home. The number of countries within the deal was initially low, It soon grew to eighteen and includes:
- Australia
- Austria
- Denmark
- Finland
- France
- Hong Kong
- Indonesia
- Ireland
- Israel
- Italy
- Macau
- New Zealand
- Norway
- Spain
- Sri Lanka
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- USA.
We have a THREE dongle for internet access and this too will roam, free of charge in the countries listed. The countries listed are those where THREE has it’s own or a partner network.
Three Feel at Home – another 24 countries added!
The latest information from THREE (click here) tells us that from September 2016, another 24 countries will be added to the Three Feel at Home service! The exact date is to be confirmed.The next set of countries joining in are:
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Channel Islands (Guernsey, Jersey)
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Estonia
- Germany
- Gibraltar
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Isle of Man
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Netherlands
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
Of course, from 2017 there are new regulations within the EU covering mobile roaming. It is good t see that THREE have jumped onto the bandwagon early!
Hi Russell,
Interesting to read that 3 are again giving UK customers the chance to use the 3 network in some overseas countries. They stopped this before I had a chance to use it and as I expect to cancel my contract with them late this year I probably won’t ever get to use it but great for those who will.
On a completely different topic did you get an email from the ‘Friendly Club’ about voting for council elections? Had a quick look at the candidates but all are 60+ (nothing wrong with that) and nothing stands out as a reason to vote!
Hope you are enjoying being British in Italy.
Gary
The Motorhome Vagabond