Staying connected while traveling is essential for work, staying in touch with loved ones, and navigating new places. However, when venturing beyond the European Economic Area (EEA), roaming charges can quickly add up.

This guide delves into the intricacies of roaming on ferries, planes, and in areas with inadvertent network connections, ensuring you stay informed and avoid unexpected expenses.

Roaming on a ferry

Mobile network coverage only extends offshore for a limited period and only becomes available when you are near shore again. Standard charges apply close to your home network, and normal roaming rates will begin to apply when you are near your destination.

Some ferries offer a satellite service in order to provide coverage throughout the journey. It is important to be aware that the Roam Like at Home (RLAH) rates do not apply to these services. roaming outside eu

Roaming on a plane

Roam Like at Home (RLAH) rules apply only to terrestrial mobile networks. As soon as the services are provided through other types of radio networks, via satellite systems on board airplanes, for instance, they are not subject to the RLAH rates of the EU.

Inadvertent roaming

This is when the signal from a mobile phone is picked up by a different network. Your handset automatically looks for the network with the best signal, so this can happen without you being aware of it.  As Roam Like at Home (RLAH) only applies to countries within the EEA, roaming charges outside of the EEA can be much higher. Therefore, it is only those countries within the EEA that are next to a non-EEA country in which this type of roaming will arise.

READ MORE: What is roaming and what isn’t?

Countries that belong to the EEA include Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.

Note that Switzerland and Turkey are not in the EEA.  Users travelling in border areas of neighboring countries may find that their mobile signal connects to a Turkish or Swiss network.  If this happens, you will be charged non-RLAH rates, which are generally significantly higher as any usage allowances you have as part of the RLAH will not apply.

READ MORE: Roaming without pressure. Worldwide.

If you have a smartphone, you should be aware that applications (apps) may use data even when you are not interacting with the application. You can contact your service provider for information on how to switch on and off data on your handset (and also to inquire if data settings reset automatically).

You should always check roaming rates with your service provider before travelling. roaming outside eu

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