A huge chunk of the population likes to travel. Even those who have rigid 9-to-5 schedules make time to visit other countries. Then there are those who move to a different country for higher studies.
The first few moments after landing in a foreign country are important. Right after you’re done with the airport formalities, the next step is to hail a cab and get some rest.
From this point on, you’ll need a phone that can make and receive calls and access the internet.
And this is where the concept of roaming comes in.
Roaming is defined as the ability to use a cellular operator’s services outside their geographical network coverage area.
Thanks to roaming, those who’re visiting a foreign country can avail mobile services like:
- Making and receiving calls.
- Sending and receiving text messages.
- Accessing the internet.
Without a valid plan for roaming in Europe, you may
- Be charged exorbitantly for services.
- Experience loss of service.
Roaming helps users stay connected. A tourist’s life becomes a lot less complicated when they leave the airport with an active roaming/data roaming plan.
The sections below explore the concept of roaming. It discusses the types of roaming, how the magic happens, the innumerable benefits it offers, the challenges users face, and much more. Continue reading!
Different Types of Roaming
To start things off, let’s look at the different types of roaming.
Roaming is categorized into two.
National Roaming
This is when users can use mobile services outside the home network’s geographical coverage area but within the same country. You’ll need a dedicated roaming/data roaming plan that allows your device to connect to a partner network.
National roaming is often the recommended option when subscribers travel to a different part of the country with limited/zero coverage from the home operator.
International Roaming
With international roaming, subscribers can enjoy mobile services in a different country. This also includes data roaming, which allows subscribers to have uninterrupted access to the internet.
International roaming comes with the following benefits.
- Continued access to mobile services.
- Zero reliance on public Wi-Fi networks that may not be secure.
- A reliable way to stay connected until you get a local SIM card.
It is important to note that roaming has to be enabled manually. The steps to enable roaming are discussed in the next section.
Here is an example to understand roaming/data roaming better.
Marty, a lifelong Lyca Mobile subscriber, has a Plan XXL, which provides 50 hours of calls to 40 different countries. The plan also comes with 51 GB of data that can be used in the EU and EEA. Marty doesn’t have to worry about additional usage when he goes to France for higher studies.
How to Enable Roaming in Your Device
A device’s roaming option isn’t enabled by default. The user has to manually activate roaming for the phone to be used outside the network operator’s geographical coverage area.
Here are the steps to enable roaming on an iPhone.
- Open the Settings app
- Tap on “Cellular” or “Mobile Data” (varies based on iOS version)
- Choose “Cellular Data Options” or “Mobile Data Options” (varies based on iOS version)
- Tap on the “Data Roaming” switch
Here are the steps to enable roaming on an Android device.
- Open the “Settings” app
- Look for “Wireless & Networks” or “Connections” (varies based on Android version or manufacturer)
- Tap on “Mobile Networks” or “Cellular Networks” (varies based on Android version or manufacturer)
- Tap on the “Data Roaming” switch
The A-Z of Roaming
Now that you have a general idea of roaming and a glimpse of Lyca Mobile’s EU roaming bundle, it’s time to focus on the nitty-gritty.
The sections below talk about the technical aspects of roaming, especially data roaming.
The Technology
A host of technologies come together to offer a secure and reliable mobile connection in a foreign country. Here is a list of the most important ones.
- GRX (GPRS Roaming Exchange)
- IPX (IP Exchange)
- VLAN (Virtual Local Area Network)
- PMKsa (Pairwise Masterkey Session Association)
- OKC (Opportunistic Key Caching)
- 802.11r
- 802.11e
- 802.11v
Home and Visited Networks
These are two terms commonly used when talking about international roaming/data roaming in Europe.
Home network refers to the service provider you have a contract with. Your physical SIM card and device are registered with this provider. In the case of an eSIM, the cellular provider of your current plan will be the home provider.
Visited network is the network in the foreign country you’re traveling to. These cellular providers make use of the service agreement from your home network provider and authenticate the connection before granting access.
Billing Methods
Travelers are often blindsided by roaming charges. This can cause financial setbacks to some, as roaming charges are usually on the higher side.
So, what are the factors that influence the roaming/data roaming charges?
There are four major factors. They are
- The country you visit.
- The absence of a valid roaming plan.
- The services used.
- The service agreement between operators.
Subscribers will also have to keep an eye out for hidden charges. It is important to read the terms and conditions carefully before choosing a plan.
Here are some common hidden charges in roaming/data roaming plans travelers should be wary of.
- Background Applications: Even if the device isn’t in use, background applications will actively use data to check for new mail or messages.
- Unlisted Numbers: Making/receiving calls and sending/receiving messages to countries/regions outside the roaming plan’s scope leads to additional charges.
- Voicemail Charges: Unless mentioned in the plan, subscribers will be charged extra for using voicemail services.
- Incoming Calls/Text Messages: Select roaming plans charge subscribers for receiving calls and text messages.
Benefits of Roaming
Regardless of the reason, it is important to have a functional phone in your hands when you visit a foreign country. A device with data connectivity simplifies your stay as a tourist and helps you ease into the new life if you’re visiting the country for educational or work purposes.
Here are three major benefits of roaming.
- Uninterrupted Connectivity: Most roaming/data roaming plans allow you to use the phone in a foreign country just like how you were doing it back home. You can stay in touch with friends and family while enjoying the local sights - all this without having to switch SIM cards.
- Convenience: When you opt for a roaming/data roaming plan, you don’t have to bother about buying a MiFi device or setting up a mobile hotspot. Your roaming plan covers all the incoming and outgoing calls and text messages. There are even dedicated Lyca Mobile internet roaming plans that take care of your data needs.
- Business Continuity: Those on work-related visits can access emails and contact colleagues as soon as they arrive; no need to wait till they reach the hotel room or the office.
Common Challenges Involved in Roaming
Although roaming sounds quite beneficial on paper, it comes with its fair share of challenges. Most people, especially travelers, don’t realize they have been charged for a specific service until they see the bill.
Here are three major challenges subscribers have to face.
- Exorbitant Costs: A large number of consumers are unaware of charges related to roaming in Europe or any other region. They may absent-mindedly make/answer a call or use data like they do in their home networks. This leads to exceptionally high charges, something that hits them later.
- Poor Coverage: Network deprioritization is a common challenge. Some cellular operators, especially those with low network bandwidth, may give higher preference to the local consumer than tourists on a roaming plan. This, in turn, leads to dropped calls, slow internet speeds, echoes, or significant signal drops.
- Lack of Consumer Awareness: The average subscriber may miss minute details, like answering calls or receiving messages, which are also chargeable. They may also overlook the apps that connect to the internet when the device is idle. This data usage can lead to surprise charges. Even a visit to the landing page of a telecom operator when on a visited network can result in high charges.
Lyca International Roaming Plans
As one of the world’s largest mobile virtual network operators (MVNO), Lyca Mobile has some exciting international roaming plans for subscribers in Belgium.
The top Lyca Mobile roaming plans are as follows.
Lyca’s international roaming plans provide the right combination of minutes and data that those visiting a different country in the EU or any other region may need.
Lyca’s EU roaming bundles are also worth looking into. The long-term plans, like Plan M and Plan Star, offer unmatched benefits, like unlimited minutes and texts and up to 15 GB of data to be used for roaming in Europe.
Lyca Mobile’s internet roaming plans, Data 15, Data 20, and Data 25, come at attractive prices and with eSIM functionality. These plans are ideal for those who’re visiting other European countries for work or pleasure.
Conclusion
Telecom operators have been working extra hard to make sure their subscribers stay connected even when they travel to a different country. Roaming plays a vital role in this regard.
It is quite easy for subscribers to miss elements related to roaming, like charges for answering calls or receiving texts. Then there’s the usual culprit, background data usage that leads to excessive charges, which can be tackled by Lyca Mobile’s internet roaming plans.
Although roaming has been around for a while, it is still going through a series of changes. The challenges due to the current geopolitical environment are one of the reasons behind this.
More and more people are setting out to explore the world. Plus, there’s a need for people to stay connected and share every video they record and every picture they capture. This offers plenty of opportunities for telecom operators to test new technologies and forge new partnerships to ensure subscribers stay connected at all times.