Hello Geektimes!
In this publication, we decided to compare mobile Internet tariff plans in the EU and UK, just before the holiday season. We decided to touch on this topic for a reason: using special magic ( about which - further), the Mishiko dog tracker works in 170 countries around the world without additional roaming charges. So who else, if not us, should understand the pricing policy of European operators (and Russian ones in roaming!).
We compared prices for mobile Internet when purchasing a local SIM card, a special global SIM card, and when paying for the services of Russian operators in roaming. Screenshot to attract attention: the cost of 1 MB of mobile Internet in Slovakia when roaming with Yota is... 790 rubles:
But first things first.
The first thing you need to know about mobile Internet in Europe is that you do not need to use it with Russian operators. Or every megabyte will be expensive.
Very expensive.
Fabulously dear
See for yourself:
The screenshot from the preview post did not appear out of nowhere. When we tested our Mishiko tracker in Europe, we used a Yota SIM card on our smartphone. And if in Hungary the operator’s tariff was really 20 rubles per megabyte, then crossing the border of Slovakia, the declared tariff turned into a pumpkin (you need to read all the stars in the tariffs more carefully):
Once again: 790 rubles for each megabyte used. We had about 1000 rubles in our account, and at the time of automatic mail checking on the iPhone, FB and Telegram updates, the entire thousand was burned in about 20 seconds (thanks to LTE). As it turned out, Yota also applies such brutal tariffs to Monaco, Andorra and Switzerland.
Conclusion: Despite the stated tariffs, be careful when using Russian operators in roaming. And the captain obviously suggests that it is better not to use Russian operators abroad at all.
What you need to know before buying a separate SIM card for traveling abroad:
1. The intermediary for the sale of foreign SIM cards will have to take his word for it, pay a commission and send a scan of his passport
Alas, a foreign SIM card in Russia can only be bought on creepy-looking intermediary sites (either with home delivery or self-pickup). When placing an order, you must enter basic information about yourself, as well as upload a scan of your international passport to the website ( SIM card activation is impossible without transferring the passport data to the operator).
Intermediaries in this matter guarantee the protection and security of personal data, but only in words. If you want a little more guarantees, you can at least check their legal entity in the Register of operators processing personal data from everyone’s “favorite” Roskomnadzor. Whether such confirmation is enough for you to send a scan of your passport is a good question, the answer to which is up to you.
2. The intermediary will charge a commission for his services (which averages 10-20 euros). And if you run into a scam site, you will lose the entire cost of the SIM card - usually 20-40 euros.
How then does Mishiko work abroad?
Of course, since we decided to publish this article on our blog, we couldn’t help but talk about how the Mishiko dog tracker works in Europe (and not only in it).
A picture to attract attention: Mishiko shows a GPS location in Vienna near the Karlsplatz metro station. An interesting nuance: the phone itself is connected to the Internet via Wi-Fi, while Mishiko uses a 3G network.
The trick of Mishiko is that the tracker works without any surcharges for roaming in 170 countries (including all of Europe, Russia and the USA).
How? Thanks to the special conditions that Mishiko has concluded with the T-Mobile operator. The European operator agreed to meet Mishiko halfway for a reason. The device does not use a replaceable SIM card, which you could use in your smartphone, but a SIM chip. It is soldered directly into the board and looks like this compared to a SIM card:
It is clear that hardly anyone will solder the SIM chip and try to use it somewhere else.
The second limitation is that in the Mishiko tariff, voice calls are basically disabled, and our own platform controls traffic consumption and “collapses” the entire Internet for Mishiko only with our server. This means that you won’t be able to use a SIM card for third-party resources.
By a similar principle, unlimited and free 3G mobile Internet is used in the Amazon Kindle.
Okay, Mishiko is clear. Let's return to tariffs.
If before the trip I still decided to buy a local (or global) SIM card. What's next?
TL;DR: popular rates for traveling around Europe in one table:
Before studying all the data we found, we would like to warn that as of June 15, 2017, roaming is planned to be abolished in the EU. Generally throughout Europe. The European Union also announced a consistent reduction in payment for mobile Internet traffic within the EU from 7.7 euros per gigabyte in 2017 to 2.5 euros per gigabyte in 2022. This will greatly simplify life for tourists who will use local SIM cards in European countries. cards.
Already today in Europe there are several mobile operators that operate on the same tariff plan for many European countries. These include Orange with Go Europe tariff, Vodafone(with Smart Passport and Internet Passport tariffs), as well as Globalsim. You can buy Orange and Vodafone cards from intermediaries (they deliver the SIM card by mail, so if you need it tomorrow, it’s better to buy it “on the spot”). Similarly, you can purchase Globalsim from intermediaries - by mail or in travel agency offices.
If you want to be able to distribute Wi-Fi to other devices, it’s worth studying the tariffs in more detail: for example, with Vodafone this is only possible with the more expensive Internet Passport tariff for 6 euros per day (versus 3 euros per day on the Smart Passport tariff).
Let’s look at the conditions for tourist SIM cards in a little more detail.
Orange SIM card with Go Europe tariff.
This SIM card works in 36 European countries using one tariff plan:- 1€ for every 100 MB of internet traffic
- 1€ for every 60 minutes of incoming and outgoing calls within the host country
- It is allowed to use the tariff for distributing the Internet via Wi-Fi
For certain countries, for example Spain, a SIM card Orange works with its own tariff. For the Spaniards, this is Mundo: a package of 500MB (6€), 1GB (9€) or 2GB (15€) of mobile Internet for 30 days. The cost of Internet without connected packages is 0.50 € per 10 MB of Internet traffic.
Vodafone Smart Passport SIM card
The Vodafone card offers a package of services starting from €3 per day:- 200 MB of traffic per day (if exceeded for every 100 MB - 2 €)
- 30 free incoming and outgoing calls to local numbers + in the Russian Federation and several other European countries
Buying a local SIM card will not be difficult: there are offices of mobile operators in major cities of Hungary (Budapest, Heviz, Sárvár, Bükfürdó, Hajdúszoboszló). To purchase, you must have a foreign passport (to enter into an agreement) and money (about 2500 forints - 8 €). On site, the operator will help you activate the SIM card, connect the required service package and tell you everything you need.
In the UK today there are 4 mobile operators:
- EE (Everything Everywhere);
- Vodafone;
- Three
SIM cards can be bought directly in the UK, on official websites, as well as in shops, supermarkets, post offices, mobile operator stores, etc. You can top up your SIM card using a credit or debit bank card.
What do you do when traveling around Europe? Do you buy a local SIM card “on the spot”? Are you ordering from Russia? Or are you using global sim?
July 5, 2017, 0:18Against the backdrop of the abolition of roaming in European countries, PROturizm is starting a series of articles about mobile communications and the Internet abroad. Let's start with a comparison of international roaming and Internet tariffs of Russian mobile operators.
For vacationers at resorts abroad, free WI-FI in the hotel lobby may be enough. In some southern countries, calls from a street payphone are more profitable than mobile communications. If you are tied to a cell phone number, you will be interested in tourist SIM cards. Although, call forwarding is a complicated thing, and you may be thinking about changing your mobile operator. Here we will simply provide an overview of prices and tariffs for consideration.
Let's check the prices for mobile communications in roaming from the Russian tour operators Tele2, Beeline, MTS and Megafon using the example of roaming in Turkey.
Beeline
The Beeline operator automatically activates roaming. For outgoing and, please note, incoming calls while roaming, 200 rubles are debited from your account. and you are given a credit of 20 minutes of calls per day (until 23.59.59 local time). For outgoing calls, this is understandable, but for incoming calls, it causes some regret. Be careful - don't answer calls without thinking.
Sending SMS – 20 rub.
When you go online, you will also be automatically charged 200 rubles. and will provide 40 MB per day. More Internet can be connected separately for 350 rubles. (100 MB package per day). Please note that the day ends at 23:59:59 (local time).
On days when you do not make calls or do not go online, the Beeline operator does not charge you.
MTS
MTS roaming in Turkey costs 60 rubles/min for incoming, outgoing to local and outgoing to Russian numbers. Calls to other foreign numbers – 135 rubles/min. Sending SMS – 19 rub.
To use mobile communications while roaming with MTS, you must activate two functions in advance: roaming and access. This is where the difficulty arises. You can activate the functions if you have been an MTS subscriber for more than six months with monthly expenses of more than 650 rubles on communications, or more than a year with monthly expenses of more than 0 rubles. Otherwise, they offer you the “easy” option - attention! – which must be connected at the MTS showroom or sales office!
For calls abroad, MTS offers a tariff with a subscription fee of 95 rubles. in a day. According to the tariff, you are given “free” 10 minutes of incoming calls (from 11 minutes - 25 rubles / min.) and a “discount” on outgoing calls from 2 to 5 minutes (1st and from 6 minutes - regular roaming tariff for country). Within a calendar month, you can receive 200 minutes of incoming calls for free, then at 25 rubles per minute.
100 MB of Internet can be connected for 450 rubles. The fee is debited the first time you connect to the network, the day is also “counted” until 23:59, but according to the time of the subscriber’s home region.
Megaphone
Megafon offers roaming for 79 rubles/min for all incoming and outgoing calls in Turkey (129 rubles/min to other countries). SMS – 25 rub.
Megafon mobile Internet - 70 MB/day for 350 rubles. The fee is debited when accessing the Internet abroad. The traffic package is available for 24 hours; after the volume is used up, it is blocked until the next period of 24 hours.
For 600 rubles. per day you can activate the option with unlimited internet. Internet subscription fee will be charged daily. Don't forget to disable the option when you return.
An additional option for calls abroad offered by Megafon - with a subscription fee of 59 rubles / day will provide you with 40 minutes of incoming calls per day.
Another version of the additional option “evens out” the price of incoming and outgoing calls to Russia and Turkey - 13 rubles per minute and offers SMS for 11 rubles. Connection option – 15 rubles. and daily subscription fee – 9 rubles/day.
These options are not available for connection on all tariffs. This must be checked in advance in your Personal Account or in the Contact Center.
In Megafon's international roaming, you can check your balance for free using the USSD command *100#call. Calls to the Contact Center are also free: +7 926 111–05–00.
Tele2
Tele2 roaming (like Beeline) does not require a connection. The phone is automatically registered in the network of the host country. If this does not happen, select the network manually.
Incoming and outgoing calls in Turkish roaming with Tele2: local calls in Turkey, to Europe, to the CIS countries and to Russia will cost 15 rubles/min. A megabyte of Internet will cost you 25 rubles. Outgoing SMS and MMS – 6 rubles each.
For 100 rubles. You can connect to an Internet package of 10 MB per day. To activate the service you will have to pay an extra 100 rubles. For every MB over the limit, you will be charged 10 rubles. The fee is charged every day, regardless of Internet use, so do not forget to turn off the service when you return.
The operator offers very interesting information about what 1 GB of Internet is.
For incoming calls in international roaming, Tele2 offers a tariff with a subscription fee of 5 rubles. in a day. The fee is debited daily, regardless of the availability of calls. There is no fee for connecting to the service.
Free Tele2 helpline number in roaming +7 951 520-06-11. Check your travel balance *105#call.
How to make roaming calls abroad?
Once upon a time, a traveler's main device was a paper map; you could call your family from a hotel or payphone, and send a message by mail or telegraph. Nowadays everyone has smartphones, tablets and laptops, but using them abroad is expensive due to the prices of mobile Internet roaming.
Let's see if internet is profitable abroad.
Mobile Internet in roaming
The cheapest Internet in roaming costs approximately 200-300 rubles per day. For this money you get a small package of traffic, which is enough for instant messengers and mail. You should use the Internet while roaming if you really need a Russian number to be available while traveling. In addition, if you work in a large company, the Internet in roaming is most likely paid for by the employer. In other cases, using the Internet while roaming is not very profitable.
Local operator SIM card
A local SIM card will provide you with the cheapest internet abroad. especially in comparison with the Internet in roaming. However, when moving between countries, you will have to buy SIM cards from different operators and study Internet tariffs abroad.
WiFi
A win-win option for those who decide to spend their entire vacation in a hotel. But if you want to have a good time, take a walk or travel around the country, then you will quickly get tired of running from Wi-Fi to Wi-Fi. Wireless Internet abroad usually works worse than in Russia, requires authorization via SMS, and sometimes is paid separately.
International SIM card providing mobile Internet abroad
Dreamsim is an international SIM card that works all over the world. Dreamsim connects to the local network and allows you to use mobile Internet without roaming at prices almost the same as local operators. You don't have to worry about the cost of Internet roaming - our mobile application will show all costs and tariffs in each country. With Dreamsim you can travel and not worry that the Internet abroad will leave you without pants.
With our SIM card you will always have a reliable connection and fast Internet abroad.
Travel today is inextricably linked with the use of the Internet - book air tickets, book a hotel, find an excursion or a popular cafe, upload fresh photos to a social network. Unlimited Internet abroad is even more important for businessmen and business people who regularly travel to other countries and need prompt communication with partners and the office.
The BEST ROAMING company offers a unique solution for everyone who wants to use the Internet at the same price in all European countries.
Special conditions
- All offers include data transfer. No overage fee
- Minimum contract period 1 month
- Selected countries may change. Check before ordering
- All offers include unlimited 2G internet
- Internet will not be available in countries other than those listed
- Possibility of connecting high-speed 4G Internet
- All SIM cards with an American number
A smart router is an indispensable gadget for business people and tourists. Simply turn on the router in any country, and you will be able to use high-speed mobile Internet at a reduced price.
Mobile Internet operates at a single tariff without restrictions!
Several people can connect to the router at the same time. In addition to the Internet, users will have access to calls at a single rate and sending SMS to any country in the world. Balance control can be done at any time. Account replenishment is carried out using bank cards or payment systems.
Unlimited mobile Internet in roaming is convenient. We provide high quality signal throughout Europe. Communication is provided by leading mobile operators in Europe, who are our partners and provide their networks for roaming.
How it works?
Prices for mobile Internet roaming abroad are fixed. The cost of Internet roaming is much lower than that of any other operators.
You purchase a set of equipment from our company - a router and a SIM card with a certain tariff, and connect to it when you need it. On our website you can view a table comparing prices for roaming from different operators. We cooperate with the largest networks in different countries in Europe:
- Orange;
- Telecom Italia;
- Vodafone, etc.
They allow our subscribers to be serviced at special discounted rates.
Unlimited mobile Internet abroad will allow you to travel without restrictions and with pleasure. Use services and facilities for tourists, conveniently top up your balance and save with “BEST ROAMING”.
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