Roaming
If you have a Maltese SIM in your mobile device and are planning to travel within EU/EEA countries, the Roam Like at Home rules will apply, unless you made an agreement with your local service provider for a different roaming package.
ROAM LIKE AT HOME means that when you use your current local mobile service whilst abroad in the EU/EEA, including making and receiving voice calls, sending and receiving SMSs as well as using other mobile services such as voicemail and data services, you will be charged at the same rates that you would be charged when using your mobile service to other networks in Malta. Furthermore, when you are connected to a network in an EU/EEA country which provides similar quality to that available when you are in Malta, your service provider should ensure the same quality of the roaming service.
Before travelling from Malta, you should always check whether any of the countries that you are visiting, including those where you will be making only brief stops, are outside the EU/EEA since Roam Like at Home will not automatically apply in such cases. If you are travelling and making use of mobile roaming services provided on board of cruise ships or planes, then Roam Like at Home also does not apply. In any case, it is always a good idea to monitor the usage of your mobile service when travelling and roaming abroad.
HOW CAN I MONITOR USAGE WHEN ROAMING
Transparency and control mechanisms are applicable in both EU/EEA and non-EU/EEA countries, in-flight and on board marine vessels. You will automatically receive a welcome notification (generally by SMS) with basic personalised information on applicable roaming charges. Additionally, when you are travelling in EU/EEA countries, this notification will include a free of charge number you may call to contact your operator, should you require any further information, and information on the 112 emergency number free of charge. Furthermore, the notification sent to you when you are roaming in the EU/EEA will also include a link, accessible free of charge, to webpages including information about alternative means of access to emergency services, public warning systems and on the potential risk of increased charges due to the use of value added services whilst roaming.
Data roaming limits are automatically set, unless you have selected otherwise, so that the service should be interrupted in cases where high usage may result in very high bills. Please note that if you are travelling outside the EU/EEA then your service provider might not receive real time information on your data consumption from the foreign network operator. In this case this limit would not apply, however you will be notified (generally by an SMS) that information on data consumption is not available when entering such a country or when you are in-flight or onboard a marine vessel. Subject to such limitations, your data roaming limit is normally set at a level which is close to, but not exceeding, €50 (excluding VAT) in a monthly billing period unless you have selected otherwise, and your service provider will notify you once you have consumed 80% of the agreed financial or volume cut-off data roaming limit and also when you reach the set limit. If you requested the service provider to continue using data service, an additional notification is sent to your mobile device when reaching €100 in a monthly billing period, excluding VAT. This notification shall indicate the procedure to be followed if you wish to continue with the data roaming services and the cost of each additional unit to be consumed.
REMEMBER: Always check these fees with your service provider before travelling.
For more detailed information please visit our comprehensive list of Frequently Asked Questions under the section Roaming at https://www.mca.org.mt/consumer/faqs.
Should you require further clarifications, you may contact our end-user affairs team on +356 2133 6840 or send us an email on customercare@mca.org.mt.
Last Updated on 15/12/2023
