Roaming lets you talk, text, and use data when you are outside your network provider’s coverage area. Roaming is derived from the term ROAM, which stands for Real-time Optimally Adapting Mesh. On roaming, your data travels on the network of another network provider to give you the wireless connectivity you need. You can use roaming services if you are traveling throughout the country or overseas. During the 2G and 3G era, consumers were charged roaming fees on their cell phone bills. Nowadays, many network providers offer nationwide tariff plans, which typically include roaming, along with unlimited text messages, talk time, and internet data, as part of their service.
How does Roaming work?
Your network provider operates your “home network”. If you are somewhere where your home network is not covered, then your mobile device looks to communicate with other networks that can provide coverage.
When your mobile device connects with another service provider’s network, then such network is known as “visited network”. The visited network identifies your home network. If there is a roaming agreement between your service provider and this other service provider, then you will be able to connect to the visited network and make or receive calls & texts and use the internet data just as you normally would on your home network. But it comes with a high cost.
Roaming services are provided by cellular network providers or internet service providers (ISP).
Cellular roaming services are provided either by GSM or CDMA operators. These services are either free or have fixed charges according to local area rates. Roaming services are usually included in the mobile subscriber’s service package for use outside the home network.
The ISP uses software to track roaming usage automatically and bills its customers accordingly. A traveling user has to log in to a foreign ISP through a computer modem. After that, he has to route calls to the ISP’s locally assigned number. After validating the user’s home mail server, the foreign ISP provides internet access to the user.
Roaming is a Complex Technology
Different network technologies and mobile devices work together to make your roaming experience seamless.
- Network technologies. Various service providers build their 2G and 3G wireless networks using different technologies. For example, GSM vs CDMA. 4G LTE and the latest 5G networks are built using common technologies, but service providers are adopting these technologies at different paces because of the competitive nature of the telecom industry.
- Compatibility of device. To roam successfully, your device must be able to work on the network technologies used by the visited service provider. Most of the modern wireless devices are designed to operate on several frequency bands and network technologies. But every device is designed differently in terms of which frequency bands and network technologies it can work with.
- Global factors. The service providers around the world run their networks differently based on the spectrum and network technology available in their country. To connect to a wireless network in another country, your device must be compatible with the visited network’s spectrum bands and technologies in use. Also, your network provider must have a global agreement with the visited network provider.
How Roaming Charges are Levied?
When arriving in a foreign country, if you overlook turning off certain settings related to roaming on your mobile phone, then it can be a very costly experience. Every single time you browse the internet, make or receive calls, send texts using your local SIM abroad you will be charged. These charges plus any additional markup are your roaming fee.
Why is Roaming so Costly?
Most of the consumers tend to think of data in terms of GB (gigabytes) and not in MB (megabytes). But all the data roaming charges are charged per MB. That’s why people underestimate the actual cost of roaming.
Taking out the estimate of the exact roaming charges can be very tricky. There is a lack of global regulations for roaming charges. The home network and the visited network negotiate prices at which they will provide the roaming services to their customers. This negotiated price varies a lot globally.
Ways to Avoid Roaming Charges
- Disable Roaming: It is highly recommended disabling the roaming function on your phone to avoid hefty roaming charges as soon as you land in a foreign country. You can simply turn on the airplane mode too if you want to be 100% sure that you are not racking up any additional cost.
- Use Wi-Fi: Turn on the flight mode and connect it to a Wi-Fi network whenever there is an opportunity. You can access free Wi-Fi in places like cafés, malls, parks, airports, hotels, etc.
- Buy a local SIM card: They offer cheaper rates than any international roaming package. You can make and receive calls, send texts and access the internet at local tariffs without any roaming charges.
- Restrict phone usage time: Because roaming charges are very expensive on your home network, you should limit your data usage and calls and texts usage to a bare minimum. Use these services whenever it is extremely necessary.
- Keep track of your data consumption: There are many smartphone apps that monitor your data usage and give you warning alerts when you are about to reach your established limit. With these apps, you will prevent yourself from consuming too much data, and hence you can avoid extra data roaming charges.
Conclusion
Roaming facilitates the mobile subscribers to automatically make and receive voice calls & texts, access internet data, or use other services when traveling outside the geographical coverage area of their home network, by means of using a visited network. In exchange for these services, your home network levies roaming charges on you.
If the visited network is in the same country where the home network is based, it is known as national roaming. If the visited network is outside the home network’s country, it is known as international roaming. If the visited network and the home network operate on different technical standards, it is known as inter-standard roaming.