Using mobile phones abroad Using international Sim-cards

If you want to use your mobile phone abroad, but don't fancy the roaming charges, then an effective way to make savings is by buying a local pre-paid Sim-card, or a pre-paid Global Sim-card.

What is a Global Sim-card

Global Sim-cards allow you to roam across a number of different countries, on different networks, with a single Sim-card.

Global Sim-cards usually offer cheaper international calls and texts than a UK Sim-card. However, this depends on what country you are in.

For instance, Global Sim-cards offer significantly cheaper rates across Europe and you will usually be able to receive texts free of charge. However, in Asian countries, such as Thailand, the cost of making calls is almost the same as roaming with a UK Sim-card.

All Global Sim-card sellers, such as GeoSim or 0044, should give you a full breakdown of the costs on their website.

International Sim-cards

The other option is to buy a foreign Sim-card that's local to whatever country you are travelling to, either online or once you're inside the country.

A foreign Sim-card, in its respective country, will work just like a UK Sim-card does in the UK. So you’re guaranteed much cheaper calls to local numbers, but you will have to pay extra to call internationally.

The other benefit to using a local foreign Sim-card, is that you should never have to pay for receiving calls from the UK (though the person calling you will have to pay extra to make an international call!).

Should I buy a local Sim-card or a Global Sim-card?

Local foreign Sim-cards and Global Sim-cards both have benefits and drawbacks, and which one you buy depends on your personal requirements.

Global Sim-cards offer good value for money if you're travelling across more than one European country, as the rates in Europe are usually cheap and you won't have to change Sim-cards when you enter different countries.

But if, for instance, you are visiting just one country in Asia, such as Thailand or India, then it might be a better idea to buy a local Sim-card, as you only need coverage for a single country and Global Sim call rates are more expensive in Asia.

When it comes to Global Sim-cards you really should check what rates will apply in the countries you're visiting, this information should be available on the seller's website.

You also need to think about who you will be calling while abroad. If you plan on making more calls to local numbers then a local Sim-card is a better option. If you expect friends and family to call you from home then a Global Sim-card will usually minimise their costs more than a local Sim will.

It is also worth thinking about how you will top-up your Sim-card. A Global Sim-card will usually allow you to top-up online or over the phone with a credit or debit card. For local Sim-cards you will probably need to top-up via vouchers brought in-store.

Another advantage to Global Sim-cards is that if something goes wrong while topping-up, or you need help using phone services, the customer support will always be in English.

Mobile phone compatibility

When buying a local or Global Sim-card you need to make sure your phone is unlocked and that it's compatible with your destination country's radio frequency.

Different countries operate their mobile networks on different radio frequencies. Most modern mobile phones, brought in the UK, will support the three major international frequencies, but you will need to check to make sure.

As a general guide, if your phone is 'quad band' then you should be able to use it anywhere apart from non-GSM countries like Japan (though if your phone supports 3G connectivity it should work in Japan). If it is 'tri band' then you will be able to use it in most countries apart from a small selection in South America. If your phone is 'dual band' then it will work across Europe, but you will have problems using it in the US.

To get a complete run down of the different radio frequencies for each country see GSM World's official list.

You can find out your mobile phone’s frequency in the specifications part of our mobile phone reviews or by searching on the internet for the device's specifications.