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Top Five Tips to Access the Internet Abroad
Guest Writer
Updated Jun 08, 2015Save
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Guest post: Matt Powell
The internet makes staying in touch with friends and family when travelling a lot easier, and the advent of tablets, smartphones and mobile broadband just adds to the convenience by giving us the tools to browse the web, use social media and access email on compact portable devices.
But what’s the best way to access the internet abroad, and what are some of the pitfalls to look out for? Here are a few pointers on internet usage, internet charges and alternative connection strategies to get you started.
1. Don’t use home network roaming if you can help it
Using your existing mobile service to access the internet abroad is tempting, but as a general rule, network providers charge a lot more for roaming, so it’s often best avoided altogether. Very quickly checking email or a website probably won’t incur huge internet charges, but then in some countries, networks may charge an enormous amount per MB.
To get an idea of how much it can cost to use your existing internet abroad, use the Broadband Genie roaming map tool to quickly compare internet charges across the world.
If you think you might need to roam when away, make sure to confirm the precise costs and understand any limitations; if available, you should opt for a cap on spending to ensure you don’t come home to an enormous bill. It is common for providers to offer discounted roaming packages which can save a lot of money compared to using your current provider’s internet abroad, so take advantage of this.
2. Keep internet usage to a minimum
If you do go for roaming on a home network, be mindful of what your internet usage includes. Email and web browsing do not generally use much data so that won’t cost much, but downloading files and streaming media can very quickly use a large amount of bandwidth and lump you with some outrageous internet charges.
It’s also a good idea to disable automatic updating features on any device that can access the internet; otherwise large patches could be downloaded in the background without your knowledge.
3. Get a specialist roaming provider…
There are a growing number of firms which specialize in international mobile internet. They partner with networks in selected countries and negotiate reduced fees in order to offer very competitive pricing on internet access, to the point where even gigabytes of internet usage is affordable.
For long stays or frequent travel this is a good way to get high-usage mobile internet access without the extreme cost of roaming on your own network or the hassle of signing up for services in another country, and it makes it easier to keep a handle on the overall costs. The major downside is limited availability as you are relying on them having a partner network in the country you’re visiting.
4. ...or buy a SIM card abroad
For long stays in a single country the simplest and often cheapest solution is to just buy a SIM card from a local network and take advantage of their pricing. For simplicity a pay-as-you-go or pre-paid deal would probably be best, but many networks offer rolling monthly contracts too.
The main thing to check before doing this is that your device is compatible with the local network frequencies; otherwise you’ll also need to budget for a new smartphone/tablet/dongle. But then, even that could be cheaper than roaming.
5. Public Wi-Fi hotspots are your friend
Public Wi-Fi is everywhere and, as we discovered when we tested it against mobile broadband in London, up to the job of providing reasonably speedy internet access at a very low cost. In many towns and cities there’s a multitude of access points and they’re very often free to use.
This option lacks the convenience of mobile internet service but it’s perfect if you’re only going to need occasional access. Find a coffee shop and enjoy a drink while checking email, then be on your way, having saved on the roaming costs.
Matt Powell is the editor for the broadband and mobile broadband comparison website BroadbandGenie.co.uk. He has written for numerous print and online publications including PC Home, Windows Made Easy, GigaHz and MSN UK.