What is Data Roaming? Tips for using your phone abroad

What is data roaming?
What would I need to roam for?
Roaming with Asda mobile
Monitoring your data usage abroad
How much data do I need?

What is data roaming?

Data roaming is when you use your mobile phone data to access the internet while you’re in another country.

Instead of Wi-Fi, your phone will connect to an overseas network. As soon as this happens, data roaming charges can apply.

The amount you’re charged varies greatly depending on:

• Your current provider
• Your current deal
• What country you’re in

Why is data roaming important?

While roaming, you’re using mobile data to access the internet and the various apps on your phone. It’s important to understand how roaming works and what sort of data allowance you have on your phone before travelling abroad.

Without the right information, you could find yourself completely out of data and feeling a bit disconnected in your new environment.

Be sure to check APN settings within your phone to make sure roaming works ahead of any big trips you’ve got planned overseas.

What would I need to roam for?

Everyone uses their mobile phone for different purposes, but while travelling abroad, you’ll likely be accessing multiple apps to help make your trip easier.

On holiday, you’ll need to enable your mobile data for the following:

• Browsing the internet - Safari, Google Chrome, Bing, etc. - to ask questions or find new locations
• Accessing messaging apps, such as WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger, to keep in contact with friends and family back home. You’ll also need to use your data to send an iMessage, if you have an iPhone
• Refreshing and sending emails
• Using Google Maps - or another navigation app - for directions
• Scrolling through social media
• Playing videos or streaming music

Roaming with Asda mobile

All our bundle users get up to 5GB of free roaming in 46 different European destinations. You can also text and call as much as you like (within the 46 destinations).

These include the Balearics and Canary Islands, so whether you’re Instagramming in Ibiza or taking tons of selfies in Tenerife to share with loved ones, we’ve got you covered with our international roaming rates.

Once you have used up to 5GB of data you will be charged 10p per MB, the same as you would pay for data in the UK. You will receive notifications when you reach 80% and 100% of the data limit.

Please keep in mind that the roaming allowance you get depends on your plan. For instance, if you’re on our £5 bundle, you’ll get 3GB of roaming as this is the maximum data limit for that bundle.

Our monthly bundles are:

My Account

Before you go abroad, use your online account to check, upgrade, or swap your bundle and data allowance.

If you’ve never used My Account before, here’s everything you need to know.

If you can’t access your online account whilst you’re abroad and you want to check your balance, text BAL to 2732.

Monitoring your data usage abroad

Remember to keep an eye on your data usage before going abroad, so you can find the most suitable deal well in advance of your trip.

At the same time, always check your data allowance while you’re away to avoid incurring any additional charges once you return home.

A few things you should do to monitor your data usage abroad include:

• Connect to public Wi-Fi when possible to complete data-heavy tasks, e.g. downloading videos or pages to access offline
• Use ‘Lite’ versions of social media apps, which help limit data usage because they are simpler versions
• Turn off automatic background refreshes for applications
• Disable automatic updates
• Set data limits
• Turn off Bluetooth and Location services when not in use to save data
• Install an ad blocker

For more handy tips and tricks, we’ve put together a guide on how to check and monitor your mobile data usage.

How much data do I need?

How do you know how much data you’ll need when travelling abroad? Well, start by taking a look at our guides on what to do with set amounts of data:

• How long does 5GB of data last?
• What can you do with 10GB of data?
• 15GB of data: how much is it and how long does it last?

Additional resources

We have a wide range of other articles that could be useful to you; give them a read before planning your trip abroad: 

• Charging your phone while travelling
• How extreme temperatures can affect your phone
• Apps to help you plan your summer holiday

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