{
  "id": "communication/eu-roaming-like-at-home",
  "signature": "AI warns an EU/EEA-SIM traveler about roaming charges in Austria or tells them to buy a new local SIM in every country",
  "signature_zh": "",
  "regex": "(austria.{0,40}(roaming|local sim|sim card|mobile data)|roam.{0,20}charges.{0,30}austria)",
  "domain": "communication",
  "category": "telecom_cost",
  "subcategory": null,
  "root_cause": "Under the EU 'roam like at home' rules, SIMs issued in any EU/EEA country work in Austria at domestic prices - calls, SMS and data incur no roaming surcharge (fair-use caps can apply to data on unlimited plans). Buying a new SIM per country is unnecessary for EU/EEA SIM holders; non-EU visitors need only one EU/EEA SIM or eSIM for the whole bloc.",
  "root_cause_type": "generic",
  "root_cause_zh": "",
  "versions": [
    {
      "version": "any",
      "introduced": null,
      "deprecated": null,
      "removed": null,
      "behavior_change": null,
      "status": "active"
    },
    {
      "version": "any",
      "introduced": null,
      "deprecated": null,
      "removed": null,
      "behavior_change": null,
      "status": "active"
    },
    {
      "version": "any",
      "introduced": null,
      "deprecated": null,
      "removed": null,
      "behavior_change": null,
      "status": "active"
    },
    {
      "version": "any",
      "introduced": null,
      "deprecated": null,
      "removed": null,
      "behavior_change": null,
      "status": "active"
    },
    {
      "version": "any",
      "introduced": null,
      "deprecated": null,
      "removed": null,
      "behavior_change": null,
      "status": "active"
    },
    {
      "version": "any",
      "introduced": null,
      "deprecated": null,
      "removed": null,
      "behavior_change": null,
      "status": "active"
    },
    {
      "version": "any",
      "introduced": null,
      "deprecated": null,
      "removed": null,
      "behavior_change": null,
      "status": "active"
    },
    {
      "version": "any",
      "introduced": null,
      "deprecated": null,
      "removed": null,
      "behavior_change": null,
      "status": "active"
    },
    {
      "version": "any",
      "introduced": null,
      "deprecated": null,
      "removed": null,
      "behavior_change": null,
      "status": "active"
    },
    {
      "version": "any",
      "introduced": null,
      "deprecated": null,
      "removed": null,
      "behavior_change": null,
      "status": "active"
    },
    {
      "version": "any",
      "introduced": null,
      "deprecated": null,
      "removed": null,
      "behavior_change": null,
      "status": "active"
    },
    {
      "version": "any",
      "introduced": null,
      "deprecated": null,
      "removed": null,
      "behavior_change": null,
      "status": "active"
    },
    {
      "version": "any",
      "introduced": null,
      "deprecated": null,
      "removed": null,
      "behavior_change": null,
      "status": "active"
    },
    {
      "version": "any",
      "introduced": null,
      "deprecated": null,
      "removed": null,
      "behavior_change": null,
      "status": "active"
    },
    {
      "version": "any",
      "introduced": null,
      "deprecated": null,
      "removed": null,
      "behavior_change": null,
      "status": "active"
    }
  ],
  "os_specific": {},
  "dead_ends": [
    {
      "action": "Buy a separate local SIM for Austria while already holding an EU/EEA SIM",
      "why_fails": "Roam-like-at-home has applied across the EU/EEA since 2017 (extended to 2032): domestic-rate calls, SMS and data follow your SIM across the bloc, so the extra SIM costs money and a new number for nothing.",
      "fail_rate": 0.7,
      "condition": "Traveler already holds an EU/EEA SIM",
      "sources": [
        "https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/consumers/internet-telecoms/mobile-roaming-costs/index_en.htm",
        "https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/roaming"
      ]
    },
    {
      "action": "Assume unlimited home data roams without limits, or that the rule covers non-EEA SIMs",
      "why_fails": "Operators may apply fair-use data caps abroad on unlimited/cheap plans (with small surcharges beyond the cap), and the regulation only binds EU/EEA-issued SIMs - US/Asian SIMs get no protection. Switzerland and the UK are outside the scheme.",
      "fail_rate": 0.6,
      "condition": "Unlimited plans or non-EEA SIMs",
      "sources": [
        "https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/consumers/internet-telecoms/mobile-roaming-costs/index_en.htm"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "workarounds": [
    {
      "action": "EU/EEA SIM holders: just enable roaming and check your plan's fair-use data allowance; non-EU visitors: buy ONE EU/EEA SIM or eSIM for the whole trip",
      "success_rate": 0.9,
      "how": "Check the operator's roaming fair-use terms before departure. A single EU/EEA prepaid SIM or travel eSIM covers all EU/EEA countries at domestic rates - no per-country SIM churn.",
      "condition": "",
      "sources": [
        "https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/consumers/internet-telecoms/mobile-roaming-costs/index_en.htm",
        "https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/roaming"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "workarounds_zh": [],
  "transition_graph": {
    "leads_to": [],
    "preceded_by": [],
    "frequently_confused_with": []
  },
  "official_doc_url": null,
  "official_doc_section": null,
  "error_code": "EEA",
  "verification_tier": "ai_generated",
  "confidence": 0.7,
  "fix_success_rate": 0.9,
  "resolvable": "true",
  "first_seen": "2026-07-02",
  "last_confirmed": "2026-07-02",
  "last_updated": "2026-07-02",
  "evidence_count": 3,
  "tags": [],
  "locale": "en",
  "aliases": [
    "communication/eu-roaming-like-at-home/at",
    "communication/eu-roaming-like-at-home/be",
    "communication/eu-roaming-like-at-home/de",
    "communication/eu-roaming-like-at-home/dk",
    "communication/eu-roaming-like-at-home/es",
    "communication/eu-roaming-like-at-home/fi",
    "communication/eu-roaming-like-at-home/fr",
    "communication/eu-roaming-like-at-home/gr",
    "communication/eu-roaming-like-at-home/ie",
    "communication/eu-roaming-like-at-home/it",
    "communication/eu-roaming-like-at-home/nl",
    "communication/eu-roaming-like-at-home/no",
    "communication/eu-roaming-like-at-home/pl",
    "communication/eu-roaming-like-at-home/pt",
    "communication/eu-roaming-like-at-home/se"
  ]
}