Smart Way to Stay Connected to Mobile Internet when Traveling

Traveling with Mobile Internet is Convenient

Using Mobile Internet~~ with your laptop or netbook~~ is very convenient. You don’t have to connect to different WiFi hotspot every time, ~~you can have relatively high and stable download speeds, you don’t have to worry about finding a hotspot, ~~and your connection is secure and encrypted over the air by the mobile operator.

What’s the Catch?

There is a drawback, however. All mobile internet plans are optimized for use in the country. When you are traveling outside of the US, mobile connection uses the process, which is called “roaming” when your mobile phone or modem connects to foreign mobile operator network, and that operator charges your “home” operator premium rates, which you finally have to pay as “international” or “roaming” charges.

In other words, roaming is extremely expensive. Another catch is that roaming data usage is not included in ~~whatever~~ plan you’ve signed up for. So, say if you have a 5Gb / month plan, and have used up 100Mb this month, you will still be charged separately for any data downloads that you’ve made outside of the country.

It is not unheard of mobile data roaming charges in the area of hundreds (or even thousands) of dollars.

What About International Plans?

If you plan to connect to mobile Internet abroad, the best approach would be to do a bit of planning since this would be more expensive than at home anyway.

Most of the mobile operators in the US have “International” plans, which are mostly aimed at businesses, are expensive, and also require a contractual commitment.

Smart Solution to Data Roaming

Way less expensive would be ~~just~~ to buy prepaid mobile internet stick in the country where you will be traveling.

For example, in the UK, you can buy a USB modem from Vodafone, which will set you back GBP 34.99, which equals about $58, and that would include 1Gb of data (GBP15 or $25). This looks expensive, but do not forget that the best US domestic alternative – Virgin Mobile – charges $60 for 1Gb.

Another operator – 3 UK – has similar prices: GBP19.99 (US $33) for a modem, and GBP10 (Us $16.3) per 1Gb of data. Or you can buy a “Ready-to-go” pack for GBP30 (US $50).

Conclusion

If you are traveling regularly and often in different countries, you may want to consider purchasing your own unlocked USB modem (e.g. from Best Buy).

Unfortunately, for the first time you will still have to buy full USB modem from foreign operator. Of course in this case you will not be interested in the modem itself, but rather in the SIM card that provides subscription to that operator. Then you would be able to use your unlocked modem with different SIM cards in whatever country you will be visiting.

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