Using your mobile overseas
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Most phone companies allow you to use your mobile phone when travelling overseas. This service is known as ‘international roaming’.
Your phone will not automatically work in every country. If you want to use your phone while you’re away you should check with your mobile phone provider that you will be able to use your phone in your destination. You may also need to contact your provider to activate international roaming before you leave.
Using your mobile phone or tablet overseas will usually cost much more than using it at home in Australia. While it can cost 10c to use a MB of data in Australia, this could cost $15.00 overseas.
Here are some things to keep in mind:
- You may be charged for the calls you receive as well as the calls you make.
- It will probably also be more expensive to:
- make calls within the country you are visiting
- make calls back to Australia
- send SMS or MMS messages
- use data services on your phone. This can be particularly expensive and will include using the internet, sending and receiving emails, and using many phone and tablet applications (such as map applications)
- receive and retrieve voicemail.
- International roaming will probably not be included in any call, data or SMS allowances you may receive on a mobile phone plan. This means that roaming will usually cost you extra to use.
Before you leave Australia make sure you know what your provider is charging you to make and receive calls and messages and to use data on your phone or tablet.
The Australia Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) is working on a standard that will require mobile phone companies to provide their customers with more information about mobile roaming.
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