Do European carriers work across borders? When travelling in Europe using UK or German carriers, how cross-border rates are calculated and whether coverage applies is worth understanding before you go. DJB breaks down Europe's telecom landscape here, covering its development, coverage, and trends.

It's 2024 — you don't necessarily need roaming for internet in Europe

DJB revisits the roaming services commonly used when travelling abroad. Roaming means being able to keep using your home number's network and communication services once you cross borders. However, starting June 15, 2017, to achieve its Digital Single Market goal, the EU adjusted its roaming regulations and abolished cross-border roaming fees within the EU.


What does abolishing cross-border roaming fees actually mean? Picture riding a long-distance train across Europe, passing through country after country as your network keeps switching — as long as the country is a member of the European Economic Area (EEA), no extra roaming fee applies, regardless of which plan, SIM card, or data SIM you're using. In other words, cross-border coverage went from a carrier-marketed perk to a universal, standard benefit.

A quick look at Europe's carrier landscape

Q: Which carriers dominate Europe's telecom market?

A: Germany's Deutsche Telekom, the UK's Vodafone, Spain's Telefonica, and France's Orange.

Carrier BrandScaleRoaming countriesPrivate/state-owned
UK's VodafoneVodafoneUK's #1Usable throughout the EUPrivate
Germany's Deutsche TelekomDeutsche TelekomEurope's #1Usable throughout the EUFormerly state-owned, now private
Spain's TelefonicaMovistar / O2World's #5Usable throughout the EU
(except Switzerland, Turkey)		Private
France's OrangeOrangeEurope's #2Usable throughout the EU
(except Switzerland, Turkey)		Private

1. Germany's Deutsche Telekom 

Formerly state-owned, Deutsche Telekom is now Germany's largest carrier and one of the four major carriers across Europe. It's ahead of the curve in rolling out 4G and 5G, and was once known as T-Mobile for a period. Its prices run a bit higher than the other three, but its signal coverage and average speeds are also relatively better than other carriers.

2. Vodafone 

Vodafone is a multinational carrier serving over 20 countries worldwide. Thanks to its extensive network of stores, its signal stays strong even when travelling around other parts of Europe, and its 5G rollout is well underway too.

3. Spain's Telefonica

Telefonica is a major Spanish multinational carrier, mainly serving Spain and Latin America, ranking fourth worldwide by user count. Its subsidiaries include Movistar and O2 — Movistar is its main brand, while O2 originated in the UK before being acquired by Telefonica.

In terms of user experience, Movistar's data SIMs hold up well compared to other European carriers, offering solid quality, affordable prices, and calling functionality.

4. France's Orange

Orange is France's largest carrier, formerly known as France Télécom S.A. In 2023, it activated 5G core networks across 6 European countries. Orange is also a major carrier in the UK, with strong coverage — its prepaid SIM cards support 4G/LTE, offer solid reception and calling, and don't attract many negative reviews.

Q: How broad is the coverage when using a data SIM or phone card in Europe?

A: As long as it's issued by an EU-based carrier, it covers all 27 EU member states, part of the European Economic Area (EEA), plus European Free Trade Association (EFTA) member states other than Switzerland — Turkey and Switzerland coverage varies depending on the carrier.

Taiwanese travellers' top choice for Europe — DJB

With roaming fees eliminated, many carriers that once marketed no cross-border roaming fees as a perk have shifted to selling data SIMs instead, letting you activate local service directly during your trip — a more cost-effective, practical choice. DJB's Euro Super SIM runs on Vodafone UK's network, with extensive coverage across 40 European countries, including Switzerland and Turkey. Compared to other Europe data SIMs on the market, the Euro Super SIM stands out for its affordable pricing and stable quality — a genuinely great-value pick for your Europe trip!

There's also the option of a DJB Europe eSIM, automatically switching between multiple local carriers for the best connection, so you can enjoy an uninterrupted, blazing-fast experience. It's a virtual card, no installation needed, super convenient — let DJB accompany you around the world~