What is Roaming?

The mobile phone uses the subscriber’s identity to access the network in the visited country.

Domestic data roaming represents using mobile phone data in your country but outside your network’s carrier’s coverage – your phone will connect to a different domestic network.

While international data roaming refers to your phone connecting to a non-domestic (foreign) network when traveling abroad.

For iPhone: Settings –> Mobile data –> Mobile Data Options –> Data roaming.

For Android: Settings –> Network & Internet –> Mobile Network –> Roaming.

Also, you can put your phone on airplane mode to turn off data roaming.

Data roaming charges depend on your network carrier.

Since 2017, if you travel from one EU/EEA country to another, there are no additional fees for roaming. Calls, texts, and data are charged at domestic rates.

Infobip’s Number Lookup can help you provide roaming information for optimized routing, prevention of ATM frauds, and added validation options.

Thanks to the “Roam Like at Home” policy, you can use your phone in EU countries (plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway) just like you do at home, without any extra charges. Your calls, text messages, and data will be charged at your domestic rates.

However, there’s a catch when it comes to data. While you might have unlimited data at home, you might have a “fair use” limit while roaming in the EU. This limit is typically around 27GB. Your provider will inform you if your plan has a fair use limit.

When venturing outside the EU, be prepared for roaming charges. These charges can vary significantly depending on your destination, mobile plan, and provider. Even minimal usage can result in surprisingly high bills.

The “Roam like at home” policy no longer applies to the UK. Some providers may voluntarily extend this to the UK, but it’s not guaranteed. Always check with your provider before traveling to the UK.

In border areas, your cell phone might unintentionally connect to a network in a non-EU country, leading to unexpected roaming charges. This can happen in places like Northern Ireland or the Greek Islands. To prevent this, turn off the automatic network selection on your phone and manually choose your network.

Data roaming is required when you need internet access while traveling abroad, but your regular carrier doesn’t offer coverage. While alternatives like eSIMs and pocket Wi-Fi exist, data roaming provides a quick and easy solution, especially in emergencies.

There are several alternatives to data roaming that can help you stay connected while you’re traveling abroad.

To avoid roaming charges when traveling, follow these tips:

Your phone allows you to set a data limit, which will either alert you when you’re approaching your limit or automatically turn off your data when you reach it. This is a fantastic way to avoid additional charges.

(Note: These steps might differ slightly depending on your phone model and operating system.)

Save yourself a lot of data (and potential headaches) by downloading important information before leaving for your trip. This includes:

Whenever you have access to WiFi, take advantage of it. Connect to WiFi for: