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Have you heard about the top 3 fears of travellers around the world? The first is the fear of oversized luggage with a high weight, as people who travel frequently take equipment, sports equipment, all sorts of gadgets for hiking and nature photography. The second fear is the question — is everything okay at home? Is the iron off, is the home alarm and security system on etc. But the biggest nightmare is overpaying for cell phone service while travelling around the world, which is often synonymous with roaming. What is data roaming in mobile?
Data Roaming — Why is Mobile Communication Abroad So Expensive?
Roaming is the ability of a device (mobile phone, tablet or smart watch) to connect to and use the services of another mobile network outside the coverage area of your home network. In layman’s terms, roaming is the function of continuing to use the mobile phone service of your mobile operator’s partner.
Roaming allows you to use any device in the same way as in your home network, even when you are away from home. For example, you can use a bundle of incoming and outgoing calls, send and receive text messages and access the Internet with your Internet traffic data. International roaming is popular for travellers who want to stay in touch abroad without switching to a local SIM card or phone carrier.
Note that such services often come with extra charges. These charges may vary depending on the mobile network operator and the geographical location of the country you are visiting. Before using your device abroad it is advisable to check with your service provider for their specific roaming policies, including any applicable tariffs or data limits.
Reasons why data roaming is expensive:
- The first reason is the cost of interconnection and network usage in another part of the country or territory of another country, these are the costs incurred by the user;
- The second reason is the administrative costs associated with managing roaming agreements, billing and customer support while roaming. This data roaming in travel increases the overall cost of providing roaming services;
- A third reason is that the cost of roaming services may reflect the cost structure of the foreign network, which may be higher or different from that of your home network;
- A final relevant reason is that mobile network operators have to comply with various rules and agreements regarding roaming services. These rules may impose additional costs on the operators, which will be paid by the user.
When is roaming a profitable option?
Yes, roaming can be a good option for cellular usage, especially if you find out in advance about the terms of service in the country you are travelling to, as well as picking up the best roaming plans.
- For example, if you are going on a weekend trip or a short-term business trip, it may be cheaper to roam on your home network than to buy a local SIM card. In this case, the convenience of using your own device and phone number may outweigh the extra cost of roaming;
- Also, if you plan to take a holiday from calling, texting and messaging, then using a mobile phone package without buying a local SIM card can be a good option, as you will only be making forced calls, and the Internet connection fee will encourage you to take a break from the global Internet every time;
- Some mobile network operators offer pre-paid roaming packages which include a certain amount of voice, texting and data for a fixed price. If you buy a package that suits your travel needs, roaming can be a cost-effective option.
For example, Vodafone offers the Traveler SIM, which provides data, voice, and text services in multiple countries. Is data roaming free? Of course, not, the plan typically includes a data allowance and options for additional add-ons such as international minutes or roaming extensions for an additional charge at reasonable rates.
T-Mobile offers a prepaid Tourist Plan designed for visitors to the United States. This plan provides unlimited domestic and international texting, as well as unlimited data with the first 2GB at high speed.
AT&T offers the International Day Pass, which allows you to use your domestic data plan in over 100 countries for a daily fee.
eSIM as a Cheap Alternative to Data Roaming
Do you want to say goodbye to your three biggest travel fears once and for all? Then go for e-SIM, which is probably already in your device: smartphone, tablet or smart watch. Digital SIM is the technology of the future, the ability to stay in touch, easy to activate and deactivate rates without overpaying for roaming while travelling around the world. At the moment, in most countries cellular operators offer MFF2 technology: the M2M form factor with good coverage and at affordable prices.
Related: “The Pros and Cons of eSIM for Travelers“
So, eSIM is quick, easy and cheap. Even if you are going on a short trip, you can activate a local tariff in seconds without physical presence and paperwork.
Summary
When travelling around the world, exploring countries, it is important to always stay connected, which is done by using roaming, buying a local physical SIM, or connecting to the new e-SIM technology. Each method has its pros and cons, but the rise in Embedded SIM purchases informs us that it is one of the most cost-effective options for travelling.
