What is Data Roaming and How Does it Work

Travellers often struggle with roaming rates, which can unexpectedly accumulate substantial bills. But what if you could stay connected without the hefty fees? In this guide, we’ll break down what is data roaming, how data roaming works, why it’s so expensive, and how eSIM solutions, like Esimatic, can help you save money abroad.

Mobile Data Roaming

Your mobile phone is designed to automatically search for an available network operator as soon as you leave your home country. When it connects to such a network, data roaming is activated.

Simply put, data roaming is the result of a contract between your home carrier and foreign network providers. Once international roaming services are activated, calls, texts, and data usage are routed through this foreign mobile provider.

Then, your home carrier will be billed for these foreign services, and the costs will be passed down to you as roaming charges.

How does Data Roaming Works When Traveling Abroad

If your original provider has agreements with the local mobile network provider where you are, your mobile device will connect to that operator’s services. The agreement allows you to continue using texts, calls, and mobile data abroad. However, it is usually pricier.

The local provider bills your home carrier according to your data usage, which will then be reflected on your phone bill. Roaming costs vary by country, but they can range from $0.20 to $2 per MB.

Reasons of High Data Roaming Charges

Data roaming charges are calculated based on how much it costs your home carrier to use a foreign network. This makes these costs significantly higher than domestic rates because of a few reasons:

• Network agreements: Foreign carriers set premium prices for external users.
• Operational costs: Maintaining international agreements and infrastructure increases expenses.
• Pay-per-use model: Charges apply per MB of roaming data, per minute of calls, or per text.
• Country-specific rates: Some regions, such as Europe, have roaming caps, but others (like the US) do not.

You need to pay extra attention to the quieter internet drains, things like automatic background app updates and cloud syncs, which can unknowingly increase data roaming expenses.

Tips to Avoid Data Roaming Charges

To make sure you won’t lose a fortune on roaming costs, disable data roaming before your departure. Go to your mobile device’s network settings and turn off ‘Data Roaming. Remember that the process may vary depending on whether you have an iPhone or an Android phone.

Another tip would be to use Wi-Fi whenever possible. This could be at hotels, cafes, and any public spaces that offer free access to the internet. You should also use Wi-Fi calling and messaging apps like WhatsApp and Telegram instead of cellular mobile networks.

Keep in mind that using the public internet and data services could expose your personal data. It’s always a good idea to take advantage of a good VPN.

You should also set apps like Google Maps, Spotify, and YouTube on offline mode to avoid any roaming data waste. By disabling background data for apps that sync automatically (e.g., social media, cloud storage, and email and messaging apps), you can take it even a step further.

Still, if you’re wondering how to use mobile data while travelling abroad, you can benefit from a more novice solution, AKA eSIMs. This option offers cost-effective prepaid plans without requesting a SIM swap every time.

Turn off Your Roaming Costs and Data Usage with Esimatic

Esimatic offers a simple, budget-friendly way to stay connected across the globe. Our high-speed prepaid eSIM mobile Internet data plans will provide you with constant Internet access across over 200 countries and regions, ensuring you stay connected anywhere, any time.

Avoid roaming charges with our prepaid plans, making your budgeting predictable and transparent. We offer competitive pricing for mobile data options, which starts at only $0.51 per GB.

To activate an eSIM on your phone, all you need to do is follow 3 simple steps. Start by downloading our Esimatic app and creating your user profile. Then, choose a plan based on your destination. It’s finally possible to connect to a local network quickly and affordably. Don’t overthink it and get your dream connection today!