o2 Roaming UK 2026: Zone 1 Only Until 31 December

According to o2's help page, calls to Germany and within the country you're visiting, plus texts, cost the same as at home in this zone. Your data allowance counts too, under a fair use policy.

Now the confusing bit.

o2's help page says Great Britain moved into Weltzone 2 after Brexit, yet billing stays at Weltzone 1 until 31 December 2026. teltarif's UK roaming overview says the same (as of 17 August 2026): formally Zone 2, Zone 1 conditions until year-end. In the o2 community thread on UK roaming in 2026, an o2 moderator wrote in early January 2026 that only the Zone 1 price is billed until 31 December 2026, "Verlängerung vorbehalten" (extension reserved). Clumsy, I think: Zone 2 on paper, Zone 1 on the bill.

(Searching for o2 roaming England? England is part of Great Britain, so you're in the right place.)

The deadline has moved before: handyhase's Brexit roaming explainer (updated 30 March 2026) says the latest shift ran from the end of 2025 to the end of 2026.

Since Brexit, the UK isn't covered by the EU roaming regulation. The European Commission's roaming page (updated 13 July 2026) says Roam like at Home doesn't apply in the UK, though some operators voluntarily keep the benefits. So there's no claim under EU law. Basics are in our overview of EU roaming changes in 2026.

Telekom's roaming info page (accessed 10 October 2026, no visible page date) says Great Britain is treated like an EU country and nothing changes on prices or country groups "vorerst" (for now). Vodafone's EU regulation page (accessed the same day, also undated) keeps the UK in its EU roaming zone and says there are no tariff changes "vorerst" either.

Plans can differ: teltarif says "many current plans" for Telekom. More in our piece on what data roaming means at Telekom.

1. o2's roaming page. Does the UK entry still mention Weltzone 1 billing, and until when? Only that counts.
2. Your plan. Does the rule cover it, and what does the fair use policy say? On prepaid or older contracts, ask o2 if unsure.
3. Travel dates against 31 December 2026. New Year's Eve in London? Until 31 December, Weltzone 1 billing applies as things stand; from 1 January it's open. Staying over New Year? Check again in late December.
4. Data roaming on your phone. On or off? Decide before take-off, not after the first bill.

A UK eSIM makes sense when your plan doesn't cover Great Britain at domestic conditions. While o2 still bills like Weltzone 1 and your data lasts, you probably don't need one.

It gets interesting if o2 doesn't extend the rule for 2027, your plan excludes the UK, you're staying for months, or you want certainty past the deadline. Details in our piece on UK eSIM options after Brexit.

For o2 roaming UK 2026, 31 December is the cut-off, and after that it's all open. Flying to Britain from January 2027? Check o2's roaming page before you book, not after you land at Heathrow.