Unlimited Doesn’t Mean Unlimited When Travelling Abroad

It's important to note that many mobile phone service plans that advertise "unlimited" data usage may have limits on how much data can be used while travelling abroad.

UNLIMITED DOESN'T MEAN UNLIMITED WHEN ABROAD - DATA USAGE

This is because using data while roaming internationally can be very expensive for the phone company, and they may place limits on usage to reduce their costs. It's a good idea to check with your phone company to understand any limits on international data usage that may apply to your plan. 

Some companies may offer special international data packages that can be purchased for an additional fee to provide a larger allowance for data usage while travelling abroad. It's also a good idea to be mindful of your data usage while travelling, as using large amounts of data can quickly add up and result in significant charges on your bill. 

One way to help control your data usage is to use Wi-Fi whenever it is available, as this can help reduce the amount of cellular data you use. 

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EU roaming rules 

The European Union (EU) has implemented roaming regulations that aim to make it more affordable for people to use their mobile phones while travelling within the EU. 

These regulations, known as the "Roam Like at Home" rules, allow people to use their mobile phones within the EU at no additional cost, with some limitations. 

Under these rules, people who are travelling within the EU can use their mobile phones to make calls, send text messages, and use data at no extra cost, as long as their use is within their domestic allowance. 

Domestic allowance refers to the number of calls, texts, and data that are included in a person's mobile phone plan at no additional cost within their home country. 

There are some limitations to these rules. For example:

If a person's domestic allowance for data usage is exceeded while roaming within the EU, they may be charged for any additional data used. Additionally, these rules do not apply to special or premium services, such as short-term discounts or bundles, or to usage that is outside the EU. It's a good idea to check with your mobile phone provider to understand any limitations or restrictions that may apply to your plan while roaming within the EU. 

How to check roaming data usage?

There are several ways to check your roaming data usage: 

1. Check your phone's settings: Many phones have a built-in tool that allows you to track your data usage. To find this tool, you may need to go to your phone's 'Settings'' menu and look for an option such as "Data usage" or "Mobile data." 

2. Check your phone company's website or app: Your phone company may have a website or app that allows you to track your data usage. 

3. You may be able to log in to your account to view your usage details. 

4. Contact your phone company: You can also contact your phone company directly to ask about your data usage while roaming. All UK providers will be able to give you this breakdown and even question why if it doesn't sound correct! 

It's a good idea to keep track of your data usage while roaming to make sure that you are not using more data than you had intended. If you need more help finding how to check, contact one of your experts at YCG or use our help centre.

Does "Roam like at home" work with UK phone providers since Brexit? 

The "Roam Like at Home" rules that allow people to use their mobile phones within the European Union (EU) at no additional cost still apply to UK phone providers following the UK's withdrawal from the EU, also known as Brexit. 

We were all aware that Brexit would be a gradual process and within the Withdrawal Agreement the EU included a transition period for EU´s roaming regulations which meant they continued to apply to the UK, unfortunately, this transition period is currently scheduled to end on December 31, 2022. 

After the transition period ends, the "Roam Like at Home" rules will no longer automatically apply to UK phone providers. 

It is possible that the UK and EU may negotiate new arrangements for roaming, but this has not yet been confirmed. It's a good idea to check with your UK phone provider for the most up-to-date information on roaming regulations and any potential changes that may affect your ability to use your mobile phone while travelling within the EU. 

How to reduce roaming data usage

There are several ways that you can reduce your roaming data usage while travelling: 

1. Use Wi-Fi whenever possible: Using Wi-Fi instead of cellular data can help reduce your data usage while roaming. In today's world, many public spaces including cafes, hotels and even most public transport offer free Wi-Fi, which means you can stay connected for free without worrying about using your cellular data while roaming. 

2. Turn off data roaming: You can turn off data roaming on your phone to prevent it from using any data while you are abroad. This will mean that you will not be able to use data-dependent apps or access the internet on your phone unless you are connected to Wi-Fi. 

3. Use a data-saving app: There are many apps available that can help you save data by compressing images and other data before it is downloaded to your phone. These apps can be useful for reducing data usage while roaming. 

4. Monitor your data usage: Your Comms Group recommends you track your data usage once you arrive in a different country. If you are going to be in public spaces, we recommend turning off your data roaming and using free public Wi-Fi. If you need to have your data roaming on constantly we recommend using apps which can help track and limit your data usage with many Android and IOS devices having this feature built-in. 

5. Purchase a local SIM card: If you are travelling to a country for an extended period of time, you may be able to save on data roaming costs by purchasing a local SIM card. This can allow you to take advantage of local data rates, which may be less expensive than roaming rates.

Does data roaming cost money if you have unlimited data?

It's important to note that many mobile phone service plans that advertise "unlimited" data usage may have limits on how much data can be used while roaming internationally. This is because using data while roaming internationally can be very expensive for the phone company, and they may place limits on usage to reduce their costs. 

It's a good idea to check with your phone company to understand any limits on international data usage that may apply to your plan. 

Some companies may offer special international data packages that can be purchased for an additional fee to provide a larger allowance for data usage while roaming. 

Even if you have an "unlimited" data plan, it's possible that you may incur additional charges for using large amounts of data while roaming, especially if you exceed your domestic allowance. It's a good idea to be mindful of your data usage while roaming, as using large amounts of data can quickly add up and result in significant charges on your bill. 

Is unlimited data really unlimited? 

Again, many mobile phone service plans that advertise "unlimited" data usage may have limits on how much data can be used under the plan. While these plans may offer a very high data allowance, they may not truly be "unlimited." 

For example, a mobile phone plan may advertise "unlimited" data, but it may still have a fair usage policy that limits the amount of data that can be used in a given billing period. 

This is because using very large amounts of data can strain the phone company's network, and a fair usage policy is in place to ensure that all customers have access to a reasonable level of service. 

It's a good idea to carefully review the terms and conditions of your mobile phone plan to understand any limits or restrictions that may apply to your data usage. 

Your Comms Group hopes you found this blog useful and if you have any questions about your current business plan or are looking at changing your current plan Contact us for a free no obligation quote and advice.