Using Your Phone Abroad: The true cost of roaming in EAST ASIA
- Kaite Fisher
- Aug 17, 2015
- 3 min read
Mobile use abroad: a notoriously expensive undertaking. Still, some of us cannot afford the luxury of going off the grid when we travel. So how much will it really cost to talk, text and use data away from home? We have been exploring this topic for two weeks now. Having looked at the cost of using our phones in North America (NA) and Europe (EU), this week we will wrap up our series with a look at East Asia (specifically China/Hong Kong (HK), Japan, South Korea).
The true cost of roaming in Asia is one that differs depending on your country of origin. Though some mobile carriers offer talk, text (SMS) and data packages while roaming in China, most users will find that they are charged per minute of air time, sent SMS, and MB. To help give you an idea of what rates you can expect, we’ve compiled data from major carriers in North America and Europe in the table below:
For those travelers moving about East Asia who have existing plans from China/HK, Japan, or South Korea, roaming charges also exist and are specific to the carrier one is using. This information is typically available on your provider’s website (e.g., NTT DoCoMo (Japan); China Mobile; SK Telecom (South Korea).
Is there a more economical way?
There are alternatives to roaming with one’s own carrier that exist for travelers to East Asia. Both options require them to swap out their SIM card.
The first of these options is to obtain a local SIM card. As we discussed in the previous blogs of this series, the ease with which one can get their hands on one varies from country to country. Still, rates available from your country of travel can be more economical since there are no associated roaming fees.
In China, the process of obtaining a local SIM card is fairly simple, and SIM cards are available in airports and many local shops. In Japan and South Korea, the process is slightly more complicated. The selection of SIM cards in Japan is limited and typically only data-only SIMs are easily bought on-site. In South Korea, SIM cards are readily available but the set up process can take up to 3 days (for registration of personal data on the system) and must be complete before the SIM is ready to use. Pre-ordering Japanese or South Korean cards online before setting out is one way around these obstacles. We recommend users investigate local carriers and their options since charges can quickly and unexpectedly add up, and some SIMs also expire quickly. In order to help you decide if buying a local SIM is worth it, check out this resource (simply search the country of interest for more information on limitations/restriction): http://prepaid-data-sim-card.wikia.com/wiki/Prepaid_SIM_with_data
The second alternative to roaming available to travelers in Asia is the use of roaming (or travel) SIM cards. We have alluded to these in previous blogs. In short, a traveler places one of these SIMs in their phone, activates a local number in their country of travel, and enjoys rates for calling, texting and surfing which are often the most cost-effective option. There are many of these products on the market. Below are some sample rates for one such product*:
So there you have it. If you’re traveling in East Asia and need to have access to your mobile phone, you have three options: roaming with your own mobile carrier, purchasing a local SIM, or purchasing a travel/roaming SIM.
Stay tuned to our blogs as we continue to discuss topics relevant to traveling with your mobile device. Have a topic you would like covered? Have more questions about any of the blogs so far? Leave a comment below, or contact us directly here.
*World Wander SIM available here
** This rate becomes $0.02/min if using VoIP
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