UK Mobile without long-term/permanent roaming surcharges?

derek1977

Anyone aware of a UK mobile provider with no "Permanent Roamer" (aka long term roamer) surcharges/limits?

Ideally pay as you go, or monthly rolling, but long term contract would work too.

flaneurs_lobster

There are (usually e-) SIM global permanent roaming SIMs that will connect to any available network but they are sold as commercial products for IoT tracking/monitoring on such things as containers or trucks not for sticking in phones.

Not aware of any such product for individual consumers (but there must be niche suppliers for HNW customers).

Best roaming product easily available at the moment is probably Three's PAYG with Go Roam added, they are about to expand their coverage (Go Roam Around the World Extra) but it's not a permanent roaming thing.

Frozen_up_north

None of the UK networks offer unlimited roaming, equally overseas networks can block UK roamers who outstay their welcome. Many "ex pats" use dual SIM phones (or a SIM + eSIM), which offer a UK number for their friends and family at home to call them for free and a local SIM for their local friends to also call for free.

I have relatives who spend half their time in Spain (up to 90 days at a time) using O2 PAYG and and a local SIM in a Samsung dual SIM phone. They also use WhatsApp. While they exceed the O2 roaming time limits, they have managed to keep going without a problem.

Why not use a local SIM and an app like WhatsApp? You can use WhatApp just like an ordinary phone for calls and texts, it is free for everyone worldwide provided you have a suitable phone and your family/friends also have a similar mobile.

SJ

flaneurs_lobster

True global(-ish) roaming? Satellite calling handsets are ~£500 - £1500, calls are something like £5/minute. 

eDicky

I'm not sure what you mean. I don't think networks apply any limits to time spent roaming or surcharges above normal roaming usage costs. Do you mean inclusive or 'free' roaming such as that often offered for use in EU countries? What's your purpose?

Frozen_up_north

Copied below is an extract from the O2 website. Others can be more draconian, ie: Recent EE contracts charge £2.47/day for EU roaming. Some 3 plans limit EU roaming to 56 days per annum, after which you are charged £2/day. 

——— from O2 ———
Using our services in our Europe Zone for more than 63 days in any four-month period is what we consider to be unfair use. If you do this we’ll send you a fair usage notification by text. If you continue to use these services after we’ve notified you, we’ll apply surcharges for further usage that we recognise as overage. 

savergrant

eDicky said:

I'm not sure what you mean. I don't think networks apply any limits to time spent roaming or surcharges above normal roaming usage costs. Do you mean inclusive or 'free' roaming such as that often offered for use in EU countries? What's your purpose?

From three's support page,
"We'll monitor your usage, and if you spend two complete months in one or more of our Go Roam destinations in a rolling 12-month period, we have the right to suspend international roaming services on your account. This means you'll no longer be able to use your device or allowances abroad. Of course, we’ll let you know in advance if this is likely to happen. You'll need to stop using your roaming services exclusively for roaming in Go Roam destinations and return to the UK to avoid suspension. If you spend a full two months abroad but some of that time is spent in a destination that isn't included in Go Roam, the restriction won't apply."

eDicky

savergrant said:

eDicky said:

I'm not sure what you mean. I don't think networks apply any limits to time spent roaming or surcharges above normal roaming usage costs. Do you mean inclusive or 'free' roaming such as that often offered for use in EU countries? What's your purpose?

From three's support page,
"We'll monitor your usage, and if you spend two complete months in one or more of our Go Roam destinations in a rolling 12-month period, we have the right to suspend international roaming services on your account. This means you'll no longer be able to use your device or allowances abroad. Of course, we’ll let you know in advance if this is likely to happen. You'll need to stop using your roaming services exclusively for roaming in Go Roam destinations and return to the UK to avoid suspension. If you spend a full two months abroad but some of that time is spent in a destination that isn't included in Go Roam, the restriction won't apply."

Posters often seem to say 'roaming' when they are actually only referring to free/inclusive roaming offered by some networks for certain countries, mostly EU, where fair usage time limits are imposed such as the Three UK terms that you quote.

Otherwise, roaming charges apply for use outside the home country, and as far as I know there's nothing to limit 'long term roaming' as long as a user is prepared to pay for it.

These are two different things. If the OP clarifies which is meant, and the purpose, there might be more to say.