International Roaming - Based in UK
Nov 16, 2019 | 2:34 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Manchester, UK
Programs: Emirates Skywards (Gold), Hilton (Diamond), Radisson (Gold)
Posts: 376
International Roaming - Based in UK
I live in the UK, and have a contract with O2. With O2 travel bolt-on, when outside the UK (and in a supported country) it is supposed to give me rates as per my home contract.
Most of my travel is to the UAE, however I also go to a fair few European countries.
I have a problem that when outside the UK the mobile data speed is throttled so slow that sending a Whatsapp message takes 1 - 2 seconds, downloading an e-mail takes 30 - 60 seconds, attachments - I know not to bother.
I've asked O2 and there is no option to pay extra for faster data speeds.
In Saudi Arabia (an unsupported country), I get great speeds, however it costs 7.20/Mb.
I've investigated Google Fi, but I need to keep my UK number.
I've looked at dual-sim options, but you need residency to have a non-tourist sim card for GCC countries. Tourist sim cards need to be re-activated (in a store, in person, with your passport) every 14 days.
I can't be the only person that has an essentially unlimited budget to want fast international data roaming without swapping sim cards every day and keeping my UK number active without having two phones.
Anyone have any suggestions to help? Do all UK networks do this?
Most of my travel is to the UAE, however I also go to a fair few European countries.
I have a problem that when outside the UK the mobile data speed is throttled so slow that sending a Whatsapp message takes 1 - 2 seconds, downloading an e-mail takes 30 - 60 seconds, attachments - I know not to bother.
I've asked O2 and there is no option to pay extra for faster data speeds.
In Saudi Arabia (an unsupported country), I get great speeds, however it costs 7.20/Mb.
I've investigated Google Fi, but I need to keep my UK number.
I've looked at dual-sim options, but you need residency to have a non-tourist sim card for GCC countries. Tourist sim cards need to be re-activated (in a store, in person, with your passport) every 14 days.
I can't be the only person that has an essentially unlimited budget to want fast international data roaming without swapping sim cards every day and keeping my UK number active without having two phones.
Anyone have any suggestions to help? Do all UK networks do this?
Nov 16, 2019 | 9:26 pm
#2
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: BOS
Programs: Marriott LTG
Posts: 3,583
I've investigated Google Fi, but I need to keep my UK number.
I've looked at dual-sim options, but you need residency to have a non-tourist sim card for GCC countries. Tourist sim cards need to be re-activated (in a store, in person, with your passport) every 14 days.
I've looked at dual-sim options, but you need residency to have a non-tourist sim card for GCC countries. Tourist sim cards need to be re-activated (in a store, in person, with your passport) every 14 days.
Nov 17, 2019 | 11:02 am
#3
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: BWI,IAD,DCA
Programs: UA gold, Hyatt Plat Marriott silver,Hilton Gold, PC Plat., SPG Gold.,Hertz Gold, Global Entry
Posts: 657
Does your phone support Esim? O2 has Esim so this is what I would do, I would put O2 as my Esim. When you go to UAE get a local sim card to use there. I had Estalaet. You can use it in KSA as well in any Middle East country. I never had a problem with Data using Estalaet. If you are in Europe use your O2 sim. Hope this helps
Nov 19, 2019 | 2:25 am
#4
Ambassador: World of Hyatt
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: UK - the nearest airport is named after a motorway !
Posts: 4,275
I live in the UK, and have a contract with O2. With O2 travel bolt-on, when outside the UK (and in a supported country) it is supposed to give me rates as per my home contract.
Most of my travel is to the UAE, however I also go to a fair few European countries.
I have a problem that when outside the UK the mobile data speed is throttled so slow that sending a Whatsapp message takes 1 - 2 seconds, downloading an e-mail takes 30 - 60 seconds, attachments - I know not to bother.
...
Anyone have any suggestions to help? Do all UK networks do this?
Most of my travel is to the UAE, however I also go to a fair few European countries.
I have a problem that when outside the UK the mobile data speed is throttled so slow that sending a Whatsapp message takes 1 - 2 seconds, downloading an e-mail takes 30 - 60 seconds, attachments - I know not to bother.
...
Anyone have any suggestions to help? Do all UK networks do this?
My tariff includes 77 'roam-further' countries where my UK allowances are included without further cost (map here) which is a very good fit for my needs, but I see that isn't so good for ME...
Nov 20, 2019 | 9:37 am
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: London & Sonoma CA
Programs: UA Plat, MM *G for life, AY Plat, BA Silver
Posts: 10,554
I'm on 3 and I have found that Go Roam is fine for speed. It's marketed as 3G but it often latches on to 4G instead. Either way, it's plenty fast enough for my needs.
But I also use Google Fi for countries which aren't included.
But I also use Google Fi for countries which aren't included.