What to know about fair usage policies on unlimited data plans in Ireland?

The short answer:
A fair usage policy (FUP) sets out how a mobile operator expects an "unlimited" plan to be used. In Ireland, unlimited data plans usually come with a fair or acceptable usage policy for use at home, and a separate EU roaming data limit set under EU rules. Virgin Media Ireland's SIM Only €15 plan has no fixed monthly data cap in Ireland and includes 37GB of EU and UK roaming data every month.

A fair usage policy is the set of rules a mobile operator uses to define normal use of an unlimited or very large allowance. It explains how the plan is meant to be used, what limits apply when roaming in the EU and what charges apply beyond those limits. Irish operators publish these rules in their terms and conditions or in an acceptable usage policy.
Several terms come up when comparing unlimited plans. This glossary explains each one:

Mobile networks are shared. Every customer connected to a mast in an area shares the same capacity, so operators publish usage policies to keep the service working well for everyone. A fair usage policy describes what normal personal use looks like and makes clear that consumer plans are not designed for commercial activities such as reselling mobile data.
For almost everyone, normal personal use covers the everyday things people do on a phone: streaming video and music, video calls, gaming, social media, browsing and downloading apps and updates.

It depends on the plan. Some unlimited plans in Ireland include a fixed monthly fair usage figure in gigabytes, while others have no fixed cap on data used in Ireland. The only way to know is to read the plan's fair usage or acceptable usage policy before signing up.

Unlimited data at home and data while roaming are also two different things. A plan can have no data cap in Ireland but still have a monthly limit on data used in other EU countries, because EU roaming rules allow operators to set one on unlimited plans. The next section explains how that limit is worked out.

Roam Like at Home
Under the EU Roaming Regulation (EU) 2022/612, customers can use their Irish mobile plan in other EU countries at domestic prices. This is known as Roam Like at Home, and the regulation runs until 2032. The Roam Like at Home area covers the EU plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, and since 1 January 2026 it has also included Ukraine and Moldova.

How the EU roaming data limit is calculated
For unlimited plans, which EU rules call "open data bundles", operators can set a fair use limit on roaming data. The limit must be at least twice the monthly price of the plan excluding VAT, divided by the EU wholesale data cap. The wholesale data cap is the maximum price operators pay each other per GB. It is €1.10 per GB in 2026 and falls to €1.00 per GB in 2027.
Worked example: a €15 monthly plan costs €12.20 excluding Irish VAT at 23%. Twice €12.20 is €24.40, and €24.40 divided by €1.10 gives a minimum EU roaming allowance of about 22GB per month in 2026. Operators can offer more than the minimum, but not less.

Notifications and surcharges
Operators must tell customers about their roaming data limit in advance and alert them when they reach it. After the limit is reached, customers can keep using data abroad, but the operator can add a surcharge. EU law caps that surcharge at the wholesale data cap plus VAT.

The four-month rule
Roam Like at Home is designed for periodic travel, not for living abroad on an Irish SIM. If, over a four-month period, a customer spends more time roaming in the EU than at home and uses more data abroad than at home, the operator can ask them to clarify their situation. If the pattern continues, surcharges can apply.

Roaming in the UK
The United Kingdom left the EU, so EU roaming law no longer requires Irish operators to include UK roaming. Whether UK roaming is included is up to each operator. Virgin Media Ireland includes the UK in its EU roaming allowance.

Virgin Media Ireland's SIM Only €15 plan includes unlimited data, calls and texts in the Republic of Ireland, with no fixed monthly data cap. 

The Acceptable Usage Policy
Like all unlimited plans, Virgin Media's unlimited data is designed for normal personal use. Virgin Media Ireland's Acceptable Usage Policy explains how the network is managed fairly for all customers.

37GB of EU and UK roaming data every month
Each Virgin Media SIM Only €15 plan includes 37GB of roaming data per month in the EU and UK, along with calls and texts. That is well above the roughly 22GB minimum the EU formula would require for a €15 plan in 2026.

If the 37GB is used up, Virgin Media's EU roaming data surcharge is €1.30 per GB, as set out in the Virgin Media price list. Roaming is active on every Virgin Media account from the start, so there is nothing to switch on before travelling.

Built-in protection against unexpected roaming charges
Virgin Media Ireland sets a €61.50 data roaming limit on every account by default. If the limit is reached, data roaming stops automatically to help avoid unexpected charges. Customers can change the limit, turn data roaming off, and track roaming data used and remaining in the My Virgin Media app.

Roaming outside the EU and UK
Roaming outside the EU and UK is not included in the plan and is charged separately. For trips to the USA and Canada, Virgin Media offers one-month data add-ons of 175MB for €20 and 500MB for €55. Full details are on the Virgin Media roaming page.
The same unlimited data terms and 37GB EU roaming allowance apply to Virgin Media's phone and plan deals for customers who want a new handset with their plan.

It can. Near the border, a phone can connect to a mobile network in Northern Ireland instead of an Irish network, and any usage while connected is treated as roaming. On Virgin Media, that usage counts towards the 37GB EU and UK roaming allowance rather than the unlimited allowance in Ireland.

Customers who live or work near the border can:

• check which network the phone is connected to in its network settings
• turn data roaming off in the My Virgin Media app when at home
• ask Virgin Media to disable roaming on the account

Virgin Media Ireland's SIM Only contract terms require 30 days' written notice before any change to the terms and conditions. Customers who do not accept a change can leave the contract without penalty.

If a customer is unhappy with how a complaint has been handled after Virgin Media's complaints process, they can refer it to ComReg, the Commission for Communications Regulation.

Before choosing any unlimited data plan in Ireland, check these points in the plan's terms and usage policy:
1. Whether there is a fixed fair usage figure in GB for data used in Ireland.
2. The monthly EU roaming data allowance, and whether it is above the EU minimum for the plan's price.
3. Whether the UK is included in the roaming allowance.
4. The surcharge per GB once the roaming allowance is used.
5. Whether there is a default roaming spend limit to prevent unexpected charges.
6. Where the usage policy is published and how easy it is to read.
7. How much notice the operator gives before changing its terms.
8. Whether the monthly price is fixed or can rise during the contract.
Virgin Media Ireland's SIM Only €15 plan answers these clearly: no fixed data cap in Ireland, 37GB of EU and UK roaming data, a €61.50 default roaming limit, 30 days' notice of changes.

What is a fair usage policy on a mobile plan?
A fair usage policy is the set of rules a mobile operator uses to define normal use of an unlimited or very large allowance. It explains how the plan is meant to be used, what limits apply when roaming in the EU and what charges apply beyond those limits.

Is unlimited data really unlimited in Ireland?
It depends on the plan. Some unlimited plans include a fixed monthly fair usage figure in gigabytes, while others have no fixed cap. Virgin Media Ireland's SIM Only €15 plan has no fixed monthly data cap in Ireland. EU roaming data is treated separately under EU rules.

Does Virgin Media have a fair usage limit on mobile data?
Virgin Media Ireland has no fixed monthly GB cap on mobile data used in the Republic of Ireland. Unlimited data is subject to Virgin Media's Acceptable Usage Policy, which covers normal personal use. When roaming in the EU and UK, each Virgin Media SIM includes 37GB of data per month.

Did Virgin Media remove its 80GB fair usage cap?
Yes. In 2021, Virgin Media Ireland removed the 80GB fair usage cap that previously applied to its Unlimited mobile customers. Since then, Virgin Media's unlimited plans have had no fixed monthly GB limit on data used in Ireland. Older Virgin Media fair usage figures found online no longer apply.

How much data can I use in the EU on Virgin Media?
Each Virgin Media SIM Only €15 plan includes 37GB of roaming data per month in the EU and UK, plus calls and texts. Once the 37GB is used, a surcharge of €1.30 per GB applies. Roaming usage and remaining data can be checked in the My Virgin Media app.

Does Virgin Media roaming work in the UK?
Yes. Virgin Media Ireland includes the United Kingdom in its EU roaming zone, so the 37GB monthly roaming allowance can be used in Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The UK is outside the EU, so UK roaming is not required by EU law. Virgin Media includes it as part of the plan.

What is a roaming surcharge?
A roaming surcharge is an extra charge for using mobile services abroad beyond the fair use limit. Under EU rules, a data roaming surcharge cannot exceed the EU wholesale data cap plus VAT. Virgin Media Ireland's EU roaming data surcharge is €1.30 per GB once the 37GB monthly allowance is used.

What is the four-month roaming rule?
The four-month rule lets operators check whether a customer is travelling or living abroad. If, over four months, a customer spends more time roaming in the EU than at home and uses more data abroad than at home, the operator can ask them to clarify. Surcharges can apply if the pattern continues.

Does using my phone near the Northern Ireland border count as roaming?
It can. Near the border, a phone may connect to a Northern Ireland network, and that usage is treated as roaming. On Virgin Media, it counts towards the 37GB EU and UK roaming allowance. Customers can check which network they are on, turn off data roaming in the app or ask Virgin Media to disable roaming.

Can Virgin Media change its terms during my contract?
Virgin Media Ireland's SIM Only contract terms require 30 days' written notice before changes to the terms and conditions. Customers who do not accept a change can leave without penalty.

Prices and terms checked 23 September 2026. The €15 SIM Only offer and the Boost SIM offer both end on 31 December 2026. Unlimited use is subject to Virgin Media Ireland's Acceptable Usage Policy; roaming surcharges apply above 37GB per month. Full terms and conditions at virginmedia.ie.