Roaming vs Mobile Data: A Guide for Travelers & Operators

For international travelers, the convenience of seamless connectivity is paramount. It’s not just about staying in touch with friends and family, but also navigating unfamiliar locations and managing business on the go. All these challenges boil down to one key decision – roaming vs mobile data. Choosing between these services is often confusing for travelers. Parallelly, for mobile operators ensuring seamless connectivity, while maintaining profits is a demanding task that requires strategic planning. 

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the differences between roaming and mobile data, delve into insights from both travelers and mobile operators, and highlight the best ways for cost-effective and profitable roaming. 

Okay, here we go! 

What is Data Roaming?

Data Roaming refers to the ability of the traveler’s mobile device to use cellular data services by connecting to a partner network or borrowed network which is a local carrier of the destination. 

When a traveler travels outside their home country, the roaming agreements between their home carrier and foreign carriers allow them to use mobile services. However, this connectivity is often accompanied by additional charges, which are usually higher than the normal data rates. 

For mobile operators, the roaming agreements enable travelers to connect their mobile devices to foreign networks. Operators negotiate wholesale roaming rates with foreign networks which are then passed on to customers as roaming charges. 

What Does Data Roaming Do?

Data roaming makes your phone’s data work when you roam or travel internationally. It allows you to still connect and use the internet even when you are far from your home country. This means you can browse websites, use apps that require internet access such as social media, stream music or videos, do instant messaging, check emails, and use online maps. 

What is Mobile Data?

Mobile data refers to the general term for the ability of mobile phone devices to connect to the internet through a cellular network. This is when a mobile user’s device is using the data from their carrier’s network and seamlessly switches to other networks as they travel internationally. In simple words, mobile data enables users to use internet services from their carrier’s network. 

For mobile operators, mobile data is delivered to mobile phone users through their home network infrastructure. Operators create business models to monetize mobile data services through prepaid and postpaid plans.
  

What does Mobile Data Do?

Mobile data allows mobile users to connect to the internet through cellular network coverage. This is useful when users don’t have access to WiFi connections. All types of internet-dependent apps and services including social media, messaging apps navigation apps, streaming apps, email apps, etc., can be accessed through mobile data. 

Roaming vs Mobile Data: Comparison

From the above explanations of roaming and mobile data, it is understood that both are related but distinct concepts. While mobile data is the “what”, roaming is the “where” i.e. internet access via cellular networks and using that access outside the home country network, representing the former and latter respectively. It is important to note that all data roaming involves the usage of mobile data but not all mobile data usage is roaming. 

Here’s a breakdown of roaming vs mobile data in tabular form: 

Roaming Charges and Cost Concerns for Travelers and Operators

When it comes to roaming, several key issues arise for both travelers and operators. Let’s have a look at these concerns for each: 

For International Travelers

• High Roaming Charges 

Mobile services including incoming and outgoing calls, data usage, and SMS are often charged at high rates which limits travelers from using these services. 

• Unexpected Roaming Bills 

The high cost of roaming charges results in making users face ‘bill shock’. This happens when travelers unknowingly use large amounts of data leading to exorbitant roaming bills upon their return. 

• Limited Options 

Prepaid travelers often have access to choose between limited roaming packages. Also, postpaid plans may offer roaming but with limited call or data allowances. 

For Mobile Operators

• Agreement Costs

Operators need to negotiate wholesale roaming agreements with other carriers to provide coverage for their subscribers abroad. This often includes high inter-operator tariffs (IOTs) which affect the profitability of the MNOs.

• Regulatory Pressure 

Government bodies impose price caps on roaming charges reducing the MNOs’ ability to set profitable roaming rates thus affecting their revenues. Further, compliance with fair usage policies and customer protection adds up to the complexity. 

• Customer Satisfaction 

High roaming charges and exorbitant bills can result in customer complaints and reduced customer satisfaction levels. 

• Roaming Fraud 

Roaming fraud techniques such as SIM swapping and Artificial Traffic Inflation pose financial threats to operators and impact their revenues. 

• Competition 

MNOs face immense pressure due to competition from not only other mobile operators but also from alternate providers such as global eSIM providers and local SIM card providers. 

How Travelers Can Save on Data Roaming? Best Practices

• Enable Data Roaming, Carefully 

As explained before, data roaming enables international travelers to use mobile data on a foreign network. Though it’s convenient, it can be costly if not managed properly. So you need to keep a check on when to enable/disable data roaming. 

• Pre-Download Content 

A little preparation goes a long way! Another effective trick to reduce mobile data usage while roaming is to pre-download the required content. Downloading and saving essential content such as maps, translation guides, entertainment videos, etc., on your device before leaving abroad helps in avoiding expensive roaming tariffs. 

• Set Usage Alerts 

Avoid roaming bill shocks by setting data usage alerts. This helps in keeping you informed about your roaming data consumption, thus saving you from excessive charges. 

• Carry Portable WiFi Hotspots 

Also known as pocket WiFi, these are a secure and reliable option to stay connected to the internet while traveling. Multiple devices including tablets, mobile phones, and laptops can connect to portable WiFi devices. 

• Leverage Public WiFi 

Using public Wi-Fi at airports, cafes, hotels, and tourist spots can save you from burning through your roaming data. However, public Wi-Fi should be used with caution.

How Operators Can Improve Roaming Services Through Virtual Roaming?

While there are various ways in which telecom operators can improve their roaming services and address the issues faced by them, let’s explore one of the most advantageous solutions i.e. Virtual Roaming. Once you grasp this concept, you will be able to understand its benefits for both operators and travelers. 

What is Virtual Roaming? The Concept

It’s a model where an MNO leverages a virtual roaming platform to dynamically switch between multiple roaming networks in real time. In other words, it enables operators to decouple the traditional reliance on physical roaming agreements and infrastructure. This means many of the challenges associated with traditional international connectivity are addressed, helping operators enhance their roaming services. 

How Virtual Roaming Works?

Here’s a quick step-by-step view: 

• The MNO integrates its roaming infrastructure with a virtual roaming platform and starts managing roaming services virtually. 
• When a subscriber travels abroad and initiates a connection, the virtual roaming platform assesses various metrics including available partner networks, cost of roaming services with each partner, and QoS to determine latency and packet loss. 
• Upon assessment, the virtual roaming platform dynamically routes the traffic to the most optimal partner network. 

It is important to note that this is a very rapid, real-time process and ensures a balance between cost and quality of service. 

REVE Virtual Roaming: Revolutionizing Operator Roaming Services

REVE Virtual Roaming solution is a next-gen roaming technology that simplifies international roaming for telcos and mobile operators and offers mobile subscribers seamless roaming services. 

Advantages of REVE Virtual Roaming Solution for Operators

• Reduced IOT Costs and Increased Margins 

REVE Virtual Roaming eliminates the need to rely on fixed bilateral agreements with high-cost partners. This reduces the wholesale roaming expenses, directly boosting operator margins. 

• Improved Quality of Service 

The ability to ensure consistent connectivity and service quality even when switching between networks through load balancing and traffic management leads to a smoother user experience. 

• Faster Market Expansion 

Operators can quickly launch global roaming services as the platform provides pre-established global coverage, seamless integration, and flexible service launch, allowing operators to activate roaming services almost instantly. 

• Increased Subscriber Retention

Virtual roaming helps reduce customer dissatisfaction which is the number one reason for subscriber churn. The affordable, reliable, and seamless roaming services provided by REVE virtual roaming encourage subscribers to stay with the provider rather than switch to other alternatives. 

Advantages of REVE Virtual Roaming Solution for Subscribers

• With REVE virtual roaming, subscribers can continue using their original phone number or home country number while roaming abroad adding to their seamless communication experience. 
• Our app allows subscribers to enjoy local calling tariffs rather than expensive international roaming rates, offering them affordable communication while traveling abroad. 

• Referral credit incentivizes subscribers to refer friends and family. While subscribers earn free rewards, operators also gain higher engagement and increased brand loyalty. 

Roaming vs Mobile Data: Key Takeaway!

For travelers, staying connected when they are in a foreign land doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. By understanding roaming vs mobile data, they can make smarter roaming choices – enabling roaming carefully, using open WiFi with caution, pre-downloading content, and leveraging cost-effective alternatives like virtual roaming apps. 

Parallelly, operators need innovative technologies like virtual roaming to ensure the delivery of seamless, reliable, and cost-effective roaming services. Such measures help in enhancing customer satisfaction and boost revenue.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is International calling the same as data roaming?

No these are different. International calling refers to making calls from your home country to a foreign country. On the other side, data roaming occurs when an international traveler uses mobile data services such as browsing while abroad. In international calling, the user uses home country network services to make calls while in data roaming the user is connected to a foreign network. 

How to avoid roaming charges?

There are several ways in which users can save on roaming charges such as purchasing roaming packages, switching to WiFi networks, using eSIM cards, disabling background data to prevent unexpected usage, etc. 

Is cellular data roaming the same as data roaming?

Yes, cellular data roaming and data roaming generally refer to the same thing. 

Can I use my phone’s hotspot while roaming?

Yes, you can use your phone’s hotspot while roaming but it may be expensive. This is because when you use your phone as a hotspot while roaming, it allows other devices to connect to your mobile data connection. 

Is it safe to use public Wi-Fi instead of mobile data while traveling?

Using public WiFi is a convenient option, however, it’s not always safe because open WiFi networks can be easily intercepted by hackers. 

Are virtual roaming apps a good alternative to traditional roaming?

Absolutely, virtual roaming apps like REVE offer operators the opportunity to provide cost-effective, high-quality roaming services.