How to use data roaming when you’re overseas

The summer holidays are almost upon us, and this is normally the time of year when millions of British families head abroad.

Not for the first time this decade, that’s currently proving rather challenging.

Overseas travel feels uniquely fraught, from huge EU immigration queues to ‘dynamically priced’ accommodation in World Cup host cities, via fuel shortages and cancelled flights.

Nonetheless, many of us are willing to accept these risks in the pursuit of sunnier climes.

However, the soaring price of overseas travel means careful budgeting is essential, which leaves little room for punitive data roaming costs if you aren’t organised.

Roaming describes the process of web-enabled devices connecting to mobile networks in overseas countries, keeping people connected – at a price.

Here’s what you need to know about using mobile data overseas, with practical tips about keeping costs down and avoiding any billing horror stories on your return…

Ignorance is not an excuse

Regular followers of current affairs might remember an SNP MSP racking up an £11,000 data roaming bill on a Scottish Parliament iPad while on holiday in Morocco.

MSP Michael Matheson originally claimed the costs as a work expense, later resigning when it transpired his sons had been watching football.

This is an extreme example of what happens when data roaming isn’t closely supervised, but Matheson isn’t the first person to incur big data bills while holidaying.

It’s easy to overlook which network your device is connected to, or to underestimate the amount of data consumed by a TikTok feed, YouTube stream or Zoom call.

This applies to smartphones, tablets, laptops and any other devices capable of web browsing.

How to avoid data roaming costs

Before travelling, check whether your UK phone network offers international roaming to your destination, effectively letting you use data overseas as if you were still in this country.

As an example, Sky recently increased its roster of roaming-supported countries to 120. Sky customers in these countries can use their UK data, calls and texts for a £2 daily premium.

Other mobile networks like EE and Vodafone offer comparable packages, often split into price-banded international regions.

Check the network your device/s will connect to abroad, investigate access costs and set voluntary spending caps before heading off.

Fair usage policies are generally in place, though they may entail less data than you’d be allowed to use domestically.

Your mobile network should warn you as any data limits approach, which isn’t particularly helpful if most of your data is gobbled up on day one.

Cruise ships and international waters tend to be particularly expensive, so rely on the ship’s WiFi or wait until you’re on dry land before turning on mobile data.

Playing it safe

There are plenty of practical ways to reduce data usage, beyond essential mapping or messaging.

Disable data use before departing the UK and only turn it back on once you’ve reached somewhere with free public WiFi, like an airport.

Connect to this network and instruct your device to reconnect whenever it’s available.

Insecure public WiFi shouldn’t be used for digital banking or accessing confidential work documents without a VPN, but it’s fine for voice or video calls via platforms like WhatsApp.

(Voicemails may incur costs while overseas, so if your ISP charges fees to listen to answering machine messages while abroad, deactivate your voicemail service prior to departure).

Avoid scrolling through social media, which gobbles up data. If you have to use social media, post or find what you need and immediately log off.

Also avoid streaming or gaming. Download programs, games or apps in advance, ensuring any boarding passes or travel info can be viewed offline (other than dynamic tickets).

Finally, consider investing in an eSIM – a digital version of the SIM card in your phone that’s typically acquired at your destination.

These eSIMs connect to local networks at standard rates rather than international ones, which might prove more cost-effective on long trips or when venturing outside the EU.