Can’t connect abroad, not even wifu

[GrahamS_1741072]

Wife is in Dubai. Set phone up before leaving. On arrival whatsapped home on hotel wifi. Then it’s stopped working. Can’t get access to select an add-on they say now is necessary. Any help please appreciated. (don’t want to make calls or text)

[JJPDeux]

Has your phone changes the APN in her phone to "mob.asm.net" , which is required to use your phone abroad ?

The FAQ section of this forum contains instructions on how to change the APN for both Android and iPhone.

In addition, as your wife is outside both the UK and the EU, she will indeed need to purchase an add on. However, that could soon mount up, so, if your wife has an eSIM compatible phone, and feels confident in setting up an eSIM, a specialist travel eSIM from the likes of Sparks and Airalo would be cheaper. Whilst travel eSIMs are data only, you can od course use the eSIM data to make and take calls, together with sending and receiving texts through Whatsapp, Signal and Telegram.

[JJP2]

Your wife needs to change the APN to ‘mob.asm.net’ in the first instance.

 Instructions on how to do this, for both Android and iPhone, are pinned to the top of the FAQ section of this forum.

Then, she needs to buy an add on to use data.

As Dubai is not in the EU, it’s of course not covered by the up to 12 GB data allowance when roaming in the EU.

The great thing about Smarty add ons is that they never expire and also that their cash balance can be converted to your account balance to go towards future bills.

It’s also a good idea, but not always necessary, to manually select a network when abroad, rather than letting your phone automatically select a network. 

*When your wife has set the APN to ‘mob.asm.net’ she can leave it, as your phone will still work with that APN when back home in the UK.