Forum Discussion

SonaliHo_116424's avatar
SonaliHo_116424
SMARTY Pioneer
09-09-2024

roaming in Asia

Hi, I will be traveling to different countries in Asia & Australia from this month till next year. I do not want to lose my mobile number in the UK because it's connected to my bank. Please advise how I can do this and whether my mobile will still work while abroad, as I might occasionally need my UK number for my mobile banking and money transfers abroad.

4 Replies

  • MSF's avatar
    MSF
    SMARTY Guru
    09-09-2024

    SonaliHo_116424  If you do not use Asim in any way, then you get an email alert after 180 days and the sim is deactivated after a further 40 days i.e. 220 days of inactivity in total.

    Yes, your mobile will work while abroad in Asia & Australia, provided you change necessary APN setting and put sufficient credit on the account to pay for any use.

    Why don't you check out the help articles on Smarty website and take a look at the Price Guide for costs of roaming?

    May be worth you researching buying an Esim if your phone can accept one - many suppliers online for different countries/regions.

    • SonaliHo_116424's avatar
      SonaliHo_116424
      SMARTY Pioneer
      09-09-2024

      Hi thanks for your reply, I considered the Esim but for me, it's more important to keep the UK sim working(on roaming for my banking and other transactions ) rather than worrying about the sim card for abroad, which I can buy once I get there. any idea how I can achieve that? beyond 180+40days?

      • RovingRaspberry's avatar
        RovingRaspberry
        SMARTY Commentator
        12-09-2024

        In addition to the always helpful advice from MSF if you have an eSIM compatible phone, buy an eSIM for Asia and Australia before you leave the UK, which you csn activate as soon as you land in your first destination, which would save you time looking for a physical bricks and mortar store.  Airalo, Holafly & Nomad are some well known travel eSIM providers, but there are others of course.