{"id":389,"date":"2025-03-25T14:52:27","date_gmt":"2025-03-25T14:52:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/quibity.com\/blog\/?p=389"},"modified":"2025-03-25T14:52:27","modified_gmt":"2025-03-25T14:52:27","slug":"data-roaming-what-it-is-how-it-works-and-how-to-avoid-its-high-costs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/quibity.com\/blog\/en\/data-roaming-what-it-is-how-it-works-and-how-to-avoid-its-high-costs\/","title":{"rendered":"Data Roaming: What It Is, How It Works, and How to Avoid Its High Costs"},"content":{"rendered":"

What is Data Roaming?<\/strong><\/h2>

When you are abroad and using the internet, your operator relies on the local mobile networks to provide you with the service. This operation can lead to quite high costs, with each megabyte of connection potentially costing you more than \u20ac1!<\/p>

In this article, we will explain how to manage or avoid the cost of data roaming and, if you’re a European citizen, we\u2019ll explain the advantages and disadvantages of using your current data plan in European Union countries.<\/p>

How Does Roaming Work?<\/strong><\/h3>

This service allows you to connect to a foreign network with which your operator has established collaboration agreements when you leave your country. While this agreement allows you to continue browsing, roaming costs are often very high. Some operators include a small amount of GB to use abroad without additional charges, but it\u2019s usually just a few GB, which rarely cover today\u2019s connection needs.<\/p>

How Much Do Roaming Rates Cost?<\/strong><\/h3>

Rates vary depending on the destination country and the operator. They apply to both phone calls and mobile data usage. In the case of data, the costs can be very high. Simple activities like watching videos on social media or using WhatsApp can quickly consume a lot of GB, leaving you without connection or consuming all of your credit.<\/p>

What Happens When I Activate Data Roaming?<\/strong><\/h2>

We recommend manually activating data roaming so you can always keep track of your usage. Simply crossing a border between two countries can result in much higher roaming charges.<\/p>

As long as you don\u2019t disable international data roaming, you will continue consuming mobile data. Also, if you haven\u2019t followed our tips for saving data while traveling<\/a>, you could end up with an unexpectedly high bill!<\/p>

Is Data Roaming Slower Than Local Data?<\/strong><\/h3>

In general, data roaming tends to be slower than local data because your data must pass through your national operator\u2019s infrastructure before going through the foreign operator\u2019s network. Obviously, by using an eSIM, you avoid this extra step, and the connection speed won\u2019t be affected.<\/p>

Throttling Policies and Browsing Speed<\/strong><\/h3>

Most operators apply throttling policies that intentionally reduce data speeds after a certain usage limit is reached. This applies to both local data and roaming, but it\u2019s more common for international roaming. If you exceed a certain data threshold, the network operator may reduce your browsing speed. Speed reduction may also apply in some geographic areas or during traffic peaks.<\/p>

Data Roaming Inside and Outside the EU<\/strong><\/h3>

There are differences between roaming rates inside and outside the European Union.<\/p>