Forum Discussion

LaurenS_2643774's avatar
LaurenS_2643774
SMARTY Maverick
07-05-2024
Solved

EU roaming not working

Any tips for getting EU roaming to work on an iPhone? I have followed the steps suggested on the smarty website (going to mobile data network and changing the mobile data/MMS APN to mob.asm.net. Roaming is switched on. I’ve re-started the phone a few times. 

i still have no internet. I specifically bought this plan because it said EU roaming was included, so quite annoyed that it’s not working! Currently limited to wifi.

  • MSF's avatar
    MSF
    08-05-2024

    LaurenS_2643774  Worth checking the you do have mobile data roaming turned on in the phone settings.

    If you cannot get service on a network, worth changing to manual network selection in your settings and then trying each in turn to see if any is better.

    Don't forget the 12GB limit while roaming and also 60 day limit.

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  • Rob_2282497's avatar
    Rob_2282497
    SMARTY Rookie
    10-05-2024

    My experience of smarty roaming is they give you data not limit access speeds to edge so no way to use it. The excuses posted that the roamed to network reserve 5G for own customers is rubbish. My partner with me has giffgaff sim and is roaming to same networks and gets constant 5G. When I use an eSIM (also roaming) I get 5G as well so I can only assume it is a an active choice by smarty to deliver very limited nearly useless service. Sounds good in theory but complete useless in practice. I would avoid smarty if you are looking to have a useable roaming service. 

    • MuzzaDazzler's avatar
      MuzzaDazzler
      SMARTY Pioneer
      03-07-2024

      This past week has been my experience too. Travelled across the EU with others and in about 4 out of 15 countries I only received E or nothing and the others roamed with 5g mostly. 
      A very disappointing experience. 

      • RogerMo_3573534's avatar
        RogerMo_3573534
        SMARTY Pioneer
        18-10-2025

        Same for me. Will have to leave Smarty before next holiday

    • Chalkychap's avatar
      Chalkychap
      SMARTY Trendsetter
      10-05-2024

      Well Rob_2282497, is the best way to show your disappointment and dissatisfaction ,with SMARTY Mobile's inclusive EU roaming setup, switching service provider?

      You've highlighted giffgaff in this situation, so perhaps they're a good option, and also bag some payback points as per JJP2RidesAgain remarks. 

      • StuartM_2697705's avatar
        StuartM_2697705
        SMARTY Maverick
        16-05-2024

        These constant issues with EU roaming concerns me. I am awaiting my number to be ported across to SMARTY and one of the main reasons I moved to them was it gave me decent data to use at home and also in the EU as part of my plan and an option to add more if i needed to when i go to France on holiday in August.

        Any other provider I have used has always been great abroad, usually with a better signal than when at home but all these reported issues with SMARTY roaming cannot be a coincidence and seems like a second rate service and very hit and miss. Think my stay may be a short one as I don't want to be messing about on holiday trying to sort mobile data!!

    • MSF's avatar
      MSF
      SMARTY Guru
      10-05-2024

      Rob_2282497  I must totally agree with JJP2RidesAgain here. I have roamed quite successfully with Smarty in many parts of EU with no problems. There are times when it pays to do manual network selection rather than auto.

      When you use an Esim, why network are you on? Is it the same one as when EU Roaming on Smarty?

      Doesn't the Esim purchase service from just one network in the country where you roam?

      • JJP2RidesAgain's avatar
        JJP2RidesAgain
        SMARTY Centurion
        10-05-2024

        Hi MSF Travel esim providers do sometimes use multiple networks in a country. 

        Airalo’s UK eSIM uses a combination of both O2 and Three. If users buy their European eSIM, which includes the UK, EE is added to the list of available networks in the UK, and users can manually switch between the strongest network. 

  • LaurenS_2643774's avatar
    LaurenS_2643774
    SMARTY Maverick
    08-05-2024

    Thanks for all your replies! 
    Sorry I should’ve mentioned the country I was in - I’m in the Netherlands (Amsterdam at the moment), then heading to Germany and Austria over next couple of weeks

    really frustrating I can’t get it to work, think I’m gonna have to waste money and buy another SIM card! 

    • JJP2RidesAgain's avatar
      JJP2RidesAgain
      SMARTY Centurion
      08-05-2024

      IF you can’t get it to work, and your phone is eSIM compatible, get a travel eSIM, which is data only, so you could use WhatsApp for calls and texts

      You could try Airalo or Holafly - Plenty of videos on YouTube - search “Project Untethered” for some good explainer videos 

      • LaurenS_2643774's avatar
        LaurenS_2643774
        SMARTY Maverick
        08-05-2024

        thanks for the suggestion - i've never used an e-sim but it looks like the phone has the option to add one. Will look into it!

    • MSF's avatar
      MSF
      SMARTY Guru
      08-05-2024

      LaurenS_2643774  Worth checking the you do have mobile data roaming turned on in the phone settings.

      If you cannot get service on a network, worth changing to manual network selection in your settings and then trying each in turn to see if any is better.

      Don't forget the 12GB limit while roaming and also 60 day limit.

      • PhilipC_2176803's avatar
        PhilipC_2176803
        SMARTY Maverick
        20-06-2024

        This is apparently “the solution”

        😅

  • MSF's avatar
    MSF
    SMARTY Guru
    08-05-2024

    LaurenS_2643774  You do not say which country you are roaming in. Are you certain that the phone is finding an EU network?

    From personal experience, EU Roaming works well in a number of different countries.

  • Chalkychap's avatar
    Chalkychap
    SMARTY Trendsetter
    07-05-2024

    Have you checked you're in one of SMARTY Mobile's inclusive EU roaming destinations, LaurenS_2643774? 

    If yes, are you near the border of a country not covered by inclusive EU roaming - sometimes you can pick-up a  signal from across a border, if it's 'stronger'.

     

  • JJP2RidesAgain's avatar
    JJP2RidesAgain
    SMARTY Centurion
    07-05-2024

    This is the smarty community forum, we are customers just like you. 

    Double check that you have changed the APN to “mob.asm.net”

    Do a manual network selection, rather than letting your phone automatically select a network.

    It may simply be that the location you are in has poor network coverage, which is outside the control of Smarty, as you are roaming on a foreign network. 

    • Teaspoons's avatar
      Teaspoons
      SMARTY Rookie
      01-07-2024

      Took me days to find this solution! No coverage in Italy till I changed the APN. Now have data! Hope this works for rest of Europe and my travels as the data in UK was also very sporadic and dropped out constantly...