Mobile network provider EE has revealed it will charge new UK customers extra to use their mobile phone in Europe from January 2022.

New customers joining or upgrading from July 7 will be charged £2 a day to use their services in a total of 47 European destinations from the start of next year.

Although EE, O2, Three and Vodaphone originally said they had no plans to reintroduce roaming charges in Europe, EE has become the first UK operator to do so since the EU trade deal was signed last year which gives them the option to do so.

EE, which is part of the BT Group, said in a statement that the charges would "support investment into our UK based customer service and leading UK network".

It added that UK customers would not be charged for roaming in the Republic of Ireland, and customers will be able to buy 30-day roaming passes for £10 to use their home tariff abroad in the 47 affected countries.

Other networks, including O2 and Three, have said that they will introduce 'fair use limits' instead of additional charges to their customers. O2 said this will mean a 25GB per month data cap on usage in the UK, with Three reducing its limit from 25GB to 12GB per month.

The UK's EU trade deal said it hoped the changes would encourage mobile networks to have "transparent and reasonable rates" for roaming, without the need for a ban on charges.

"At the moment these charges are only for consumers on EE but we will not be surprised that at some point they will include business contracts," said Simon Gardner, sales director at Stonehouse based telecoms firm Lister Unified Communications.

"At the present time of course there is very little travel abroad for obvious reasons but these changes take effect next year when we hope more travel will take place.

"Consumers and businesses travellers have got used to "including" EU roaming in their UK tariff allowances so it will be a shock and another cost increase they have to bear."

If you are travelling to Europe for business or pleasure, you are advised to contact your mobile provider for the latest information on roaming fees.