If you're traveling abroad or simply in areas not served by your mobile operator – such as Elisa, T-Mobile, Orange, or others – your phone will automatically switch to a partner network and start using data roaming when you access the internet. The biggest downside is the cost. In many cases, mobile data while roaming can be three to ten times more expensive than what you're used to at home.
In this article, we’ll explain what data roaming is, what kind of charges to expect, and how to avoid paying too much while staying connected.
Data roaming is a service provided by your mobile operator that lets you stay connected to the internet even when you're outside your home network. For example, if you travel abroad on vacation, your operator connects you to a local partner network in the country you’re visiting.
Let’s say you go to Turkey. Your phone will automatically connect to a local provider like Turkcell, Vodafone Türkiye, or Türk Telekom – without needing a new SIM card. Everything works through your existing mobile plan.
Data roaming covers a wide range of online activity, including:
Data roaming does not include calls or text messages, and it won't be used if you're connected to Wi-Fi.
Here are the main disadvantages of using data roaming:
The cost of using your phone abroad depends on your mobile provider (such as Orange, Vodafone, and others) and the country you're visiting. Often, operators classify countries into different zones:
Example: In summer 2025, Vodafone UK charges £2.57 per day for roaming in Zone B (Europe). For zones C and D (which include locations like Canada, Japan, Mexico, and the Caribbean) the daily roaming rate is higher, at around £7.86 per day.
On average, here are some example roaming rates: Elisa charges around €0.20 per MB if you don’t activate a special tariff plan, or between €10 and €20 per 1 GB depending on the package. US operators often set roaming fees at about $10 per day. Orange offers rates of roughly €13 to €15 per MB in some countries. However, if you activate a specific tariff plan, prices can drop to around €8 to €15 per GB.
**Disclaimer: Prices from third-party providers (such as Orange, Elisa, T-Mobile) may vary and are subject to change. We do not guarantee their accuracy. Please always check the latest rates on the official websites of the providers.
Yes, there is a great alternative – buying a prepaid travel eSIM. This virtual SIM card can be purchased entirely online in just a few clicks and provides reliable, often much cheaper internet access while you’re abroad. Savings can be up to 90%, especially when traveling to exotic destinations.
For example, with PrimaSIM, you can activate plans for Italy or Austria like these:
If you’re traveling to Zone C countries like Australia, these are the PrimaSIM rates for that location:
Planning to visit several countries? You can choose a regional plan that provides uninterrupted internet across multiple locations. For example, PrimaSIM’s North America plan (covers 5 countries) includes: