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Doing business in a new place, or exploring new cultures and destinations, can be quite a challenge. One thing you want to not do is ramp up huge voice and/or data bills. As such, knowing how to avoid high roaming charges when travelling is important.
Whether you are doing business or a tourist, you don’t want the added expenses of high roaming charges when on a trip to the US.
How to avoid high roaming charges when travelling
We highlight a few things you can do to avoid high roaming charges when travelling to the United States.
- Get a local SIM – Voice calls and data charges are high if you are roaming. Buy a local SIM card at your destination for use during your stay there. Doing that will cut down on your mobile expenses.
- Wi-Fi – As much as possible, use hotels that provide complimentary Wi-Fi service to guests. For security purposes, we advise that you avoid free Wi-Fi at public places. If you absolutely must use them, do not carry out sensitive activity, e.g., financial transactions, on them.
- Use data bundles – Whether you are roaming your line or using a local line, if you have to use mobile data, buy a bundle. If roaming, some network operators let you buy a roaming data bundle before you fly out. If buying a local SIM at your destination, ask right from the airport. Often, there are telco kiosks that will advise you and help you subscribe available at the airport.
- Use internet calls (audio & video) – Calls over internet are cheaper than traditional phone calls. Use Skype, WhatsApp, Telegram, and the like for audio and video calls to save money.
- Turn off automatic updates and background apps – Leaving automatic updates on will eat up your data in the background and ramp up your expenses. Wait till you get back home to update your smartphone and apps. Keep any downloads that are not essential till you get back home as well.
We hope that the above tips help you keep your mobile expenses within manageable limits during your travels.
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Author:Mister Mobility
Digital Skills and Communication Coach | Mobile Phone Connoisseur since 2001 | Tech Blogging since 2004
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4G LTE technology has been around for a few years. 4G means “fourth generation”. Let’s not dive into technical jargon. Simply put, 4G means faster internet speed. It is the equivalent of driving a sports car on a racetrack. Or flying a superfast jet aircraft. Yes. If you have wondered when the first 4G network was launched, we have the answer for you.
When was the first 4G network launched?
The first commercial 4G LTE network in the world went live towards the end of 2009. Here are the details:
- Date : December 2009
- Country : Sweden and Norway
- City : Stockholm and Oslo
- Network : TeliaSonera
Interesting historical incidence, if you ask me. The network launched 4G concurrently in two different cities in two different countries. Crazy fellas. Today, there are over 86 4G networks across Africa and over 480 LTE networks in 157 countries around the world, according to Global mobile Suppliers Association (GSA). More operators are planning 4G LTE deployment, so the numbers will still get higher.
4G LTE: Data Only
4G LTE is a data-only technology. This means that voice calls cannot be made on 4G. Instead, two options for voice calls are available:
- for operators that have 3G and 2G networks, the network auto switches from 4G to 3G/2G for calls and then back to 4G when the call is terminated. This is the advantage of leaving your 4G phone in auto network mode. When pegged to 4G only, regular voice calls are not possible.
- internet calls similar to WhatsApp and BBM calls. Network operators deploy this via VoLTE or their own custom apps.
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Author:Mister Mobility
Digital Skills and Communication Coach | Mobile Phone Connoisseur since 2001 | Tech Blogging since 2004
