What Is Data Roaming? Meaning, Costs, and How to Avoid Charge

What is Data Roaming?

Data roaming is when your mobile phone uses another carrier’s network outside your home provider’s coverage area to access mobile data, make calls, or send texts while traveling domestically or internationally.

Data roaming usually happens when you travel abroad or move outside your carrier’s network, and it can result in additional charges unless you have a roaming plan or use alternatives like eSIMs or Wi-Fi.

What is Domestic/Regional Data Roaming?

Domestic or regional data roaming refers to using your phone outside of your provider’s home network. In locations near your home where your carrier doesn’t  have coverage, they’ll often partner with other networks to ensure you have access to data across the country or region. Most carriers don't charge additional fees for roaming in your region (North America, Europe, etc), meaning if your phone goes off-network while you're in the region, you can still access the internet as usual. Domestic/Regional Roaming outside of your operator's specific geographical regions allows consumers to use their cell phones or other mobile devices outside their  network operator's usual geographical coverage area.

‍

What is International Data Roaming?

International roaming occurs when consumers fly overseas and use their phones or computers on a foreign ("visited") network. SMS roaming is the practice of sending and receiving text messages while traveling abroad. When you're overseas, and your carrier doesn't have coverage to call, email, or use mobile data, you'll need to roam between various mobile networks. Carriers frequently have international data roaming arrangements that permit you to use your device outside of your home country or region to access the internet.

The disadvantage is that international roaming data typically entails additional charges to your account that can quickly add up. Roaming on cell phones is simple to switch on and off, and it's always a good idea to double-check roaming costs at your destination before traveling to avoid an unexpected charge. "Roam like home" plans can reduce costs but still introduce significant daily charges.

‍

Should Roaming Be On or Off?

To roam or not to roam? There are lots of different situations where you’ll need to adjust your data roaming. Perhaps your phone's battery is depleting because it's constantly looking for new networks, or you're traveling abroad without a set itinerary and don't want to pay high foreign roaming rates. No matter what situation you find yourself in, it can be hard to know when to roam.

‍

Should Data Roaming Be On?

You've most likely heard horror stories of exorbitant mobile data roaming rates, where inexperienced users have racked up thousands of dollars on their phone bills simply by surfing the internet or uploading a few files or email attachments. In that case, you may be hesitant to use your smartphone abroad. While switching off your roaming entirely can save you from this financial nightmare, you may find yourself in circumstances that require you to connect to a foreign network.

One instance where you may want to switch on roaming is to check your email. Generally, it's fine to check your email because your phone won't download attachments unless you choose to do so. However, since the text in the email is downloaded, long lists of messages can end up costing more than you anticipate.

You may also want to consider briefly switching your roaming on to access your preferred ride-sharing app. While this can cause a hit to your phone bill, it can be worth it to get to your destination quickly and safely.

In general, consider data roaming on a case-by-case basis and keep it turned off until you absolutely need to use it.

Note that some operators now automatically apply a daily roaming rate if you use even the smallest amount of data in a given day or make a phone call. Watch your SMS messages from your carrier when you arrive and ensure that you opt out of their roaming packages if you don't want to incur this daily rate.

‍

How Much Does Roaming Cost?

The cost of domestic roaming has been nullified for the most part as many carriers have established coverage areas in many large regions worldwide. However, international data roaming is another thing entirely.

Unless your home network is based in the EU and you're traveling within Europe (where they've established their "roam like at home" policy, effectively making it similar to being with a US carrier and traveling within the country), you're going to have to pay for roaming costs or a daily roaming package.

While each carrier will offer different international roaming rates, you can almost always expect to pay  more for consuming data outside the country. These additional fees means that you need to be conscious of how your are being billed while overseas.

Traveling soon?  Surf like a local with GigSky app. Use GigSky to stay connected in more than 190+ countries when you travel for business or for pleasure.

Checkout prices for our featured regional eSIM plans here. What are you waiting for? Download the GigSky app today on the App Store or Google Play.  Plus get 100MB of FREE data just for signing up!