Sim Only Abroad
When you use your phone abroad, you may be charged for roaming, which means using the mobile network of another provider. This usually happens when making calls, sending texts, or using the internet in a foreign country.
When to Turn Off Roaming
While roaming is free within the EU/EEA and the United Kingdom, it can be costly outside these areas, with charges set by providers. To avoid high costs, it is best to turn off roaming in the following situations:
- When travelling outside the EU or Europe.
- When on a cruise or ferry, as maritime networks charge high roaming fees.
- When near a border, where your phone may automatically connect to a neighbouring country’s network.
To prevent unexpected expenses, manually select your network when travelling in border areas. Additionally, check with your provider before your trip for exact rates, as some non-EU/EEA European countries may still be included in your plan.
Making International Calls
When travelling within the EU, you can use your mobile bundle without extra charges for:
- Receiving a call from a Dutch number.
- Making a call to a Dutch number.
- Calling a Dutch number within the EU.
- Calling a foreign number within the EU.
However, calling a foreign number within the EU from the Netherlands will incur additional charges from your provider.
The Fair Use Policy prevents misuse of unlimited subscriptions. If you use more data in another EU country over four months than in the Netherlands, your provider may contact you to adjust your usage.
Avoiding High Internet Costs Outside the EU
Internet costs can rise significantly when travelling outside the EU. Follow these tips to avoid unexpected charges:
- Turn off roaming and mobile data to prevent automatic data usage.
- Disable voicemail to avoid charges for receiving calls outside the EU.
- Set a data limit to block internet usage when it exceeds a certain threshold.
- Turn off location services to reduce background data consumption from apps like Maps and Snapchat.
- Lower the resolution when viewing, downloading, and sending photos and videos to save data.
- Disable automatic app updates to prevent apps from updating without your knowledge.
