Ofcom publishes new advice for using your smartphone or tablet abroad
In time for the summer holiday exodus, Ofcom has today published a new guide to help travellers protect themselves against bill shock' when using their smartphones and tablets abroad.1
These devices are now as much a holiday essential as suncream and swimwear, with tech-savvy travellers watching films by the pool, social networking on the beach or keeping the kids entertained with the latest apps.
But using a mobile internet or data' connection to go online overseas can cost considerably more than it does at home particularly outside Europe.2
Ofcom's guide offers top tips to help consumers get the most out of their smartphone or tablet while abroad, while avoiding being left with an unexpectedly high mobile bill.
Claudio Pollack, Consumer Group Director at Ofcom, said: No one wants to return from a relaxing holiday to be faced with an unexpectedly high data bill. Ofcom's guide offers essential advice for consumers so they don't get burnt by bill shock this summer.
Ofcom's advice includes:
Download before you leave the UK Downloading or streaming films, TV or music consumes large amounts of data and could leave you seriously out of pocket if you wait until you're abroad. Use your home Wi-Fi connection to get everything on your device before you go.
Talk to your provider If you are planning to go online while abroad, speak to your provider before you leave. They may have specific packages for using your device abroad designed to offer discounted rates, including data roaming bundles.
Turn off data roaming You can run up a big bill without actively using your phone as smartphones and 3G/4G enabled tablets automatically seek out internet connections and use them to update apps. It's simple to turn off data roaming and Ofcom's video guides show you how to do it on some of the most popular smartphones.
Use Wi-Fi to get online If you want to regularly browse the web overseas, use local Wi-Fi hotspots instead of your device's internet connection. Some apps can seek out Wi-Fi networks and prompt you to connect to them so that you don't have to do this manually. Remember, you don't need data roaming' switched on to access Wi-Fi.
Be careful about opting out' of the data limit The law3 requires all mobile operators to apply a cut-off limit once you have used 50 (excluding VAT) around £40 of data per month, wherever you travel in the world, unless you choose to opt out. You may be prompted to opt out' by your provider if, for example, you purchase a large data roaming bundle which would take you over the 50 limit, or if your provider offers an alternative roaming tariff. If you're confused about whether you have been asked to opt out, worried you may have opted out inadvertently, or want to find out if any alternative roaming tariffs are available that might better meet your needs, speak to your provider.
Keep tabs on your children - Smartphones and tablets are a great way to keep kids entertained, particularly on long journeys. If you're going to let youngsters play with your device and it is 3G/4G enabled, turn off data roaming so they don't incur data roaming charges. And if your children have their own smartphone or 3G/4G tablet, explain the risks of using it abroad or turn off data roaming on their device before you leave. If you are happy for your child to use data while abroad but wish to restrict their usage to within the 50 limit, you need to keep a close eye out for the opt out message alert (which is sent to the device directly) to avoid them opting to use more data without realising the potential to run up a high bill.4
Inform your provider immediately if your phone is lost or stolen If you lose your phone or suspect it has been stolen you are, in most cases, likely to be held responsible for any unauthorised use up to the point you tell your provider. To avoid facing high charges as a result, it is crucial that you report it to your provider as soon as you are aware. The quicker you do this, the less likely you are to face bill shock'. It is also important to put a passcode on both your handset and SIM to make it more difficult for thieves to use. Ofcom's video guides show you how to do this on some popular smartphones. Some mobile insurance policies may provide some cover for unauthorised use, but not all will, so it is worth checking the terms and conditions of your existing policy, or when considering a new policy.
Read Ofcom's guide on using your smartphone or tablet abroad
For those families staying closer to home this summer, Ofcom also has a guide to help avoid running up high bills when in the UK.
ENDS
NOTES FOR EDITORS
An extended guide on avoiding mobile bill shock abroad is also available on the Ofcom website covering voice text and data usage.
As mentioned above, the costs of using data can be much higher outside the EU often around £6-£8 per MB of data. Similarly, for calls and texts, information on operator websites suggests that the cost of making a call from outside the EU could range from 60p to £1.80 per minute, receiving a call from 30p to £1.50 per minute and sending a text could cost up to 50p, and in some cases more.
New roaming charges came into effect on 1 July 2013 making it cheaper to use a mobile phone when travelling abroad in the European Union. Consumers can be charged no more than 0.24 (around 21p) per minute (excluding VAT) to make a call, no more than 0.07 (around 6p) per minute (excluding VAT) to receive a call, while sending a text must now cost no more than 0.08 (around 7p) per text (excluding VAT). The cost of data has also been reduced mobile providers must now charge no more than 45 cents (38p) per megabyte of data, plus
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
07/10/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, today announced the latest Long-Term Supported (LTS) release of Dalet Flex. Build...
06/09/2026
June 9 2026, 23:00 (PDT) Dolby and MagentaTV Bring Fans Closer to the FIFA Worl...
19/08/2026
As the cost of IP nears price parity with traditional SDI, Reynolds argues that ...
19/08/2026
A private 5G bubble was chosen instead of traditional broadcast RF for the race ...
19/08/2026
(L-R) Rafael Manuel and Isabel Sicat attend the Filipi ana premiere during the 2026 Sundance Film Festival at The Ray Theatre on January 23, 2026, in Park Cit...
19/08/2026
Studio owners invited to have their say on rates cuts
The Music Producers Guild (MPG) are inviting UK-based studios to take part in an in-depth survey that ...
19/08/2026
Vintage-inspired desktop interface revealed
Harrison's latest hardware offering sees them head into the world of audio interfaces, delivering a 10-in/12...
19/08/2026
Granular effect remains locked to scale and tempo
Described as your dream granular effect , Minimal Audio's latest creation is capable of turning any s...
19/08/2026
First polyphonic SWAM instrument incoming
Audio Modeling's latest physical-modelling orchestral instrument is just around the corner, and is now availab...
19/08/2026
World Cup Games Generate 84 Billion Minutes Across FOX, Fox Sports 1 and NBCU...
19/08/2026
July brought typical peak-holiday drops in viewership, driven primarily by viewers stepping away from screens and a visible decline in reach across both traditi...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Henry joins BCE as the company accelerates its commercial strategy and expands its international presence across the media, broadcast and technology markets. He...
19/08/2026
iWedia, a leading provider of software solutions for connected TV devices, today announced a major milestone in Android platform optimization with the successfu...
19/08/2026
NTP Technology announces that ST 2110-30 audio-over-IP connectivity with AES67 and RAVENNA capabilities is now available for the brand's world-class audio i...
19/08/2026
Net Insight has been selected to provide its Nimbra platform by the service provider Big Blue Marble, formerly ORS Group, as the core media transport solution f...
19/08/2026
LiveU has supported Coventry City FC and several other top-flight UK football clubs through one of their most demanding live production challenges of the year, ...
19/08/2026
Nature Seekers Documentary Shot with Blackmagic URSA Cine 12K LF
Brie Clayton August 18, 2026
0 Comments
Filming endangered turtles required camera...
19/08/2026
Neyrinck Brings D-Control Consoles Back to Life on Apple Silicon with D-Control ...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Riedel Communications today announced that Edith Cowan University (ECU) in Perth, Australia, implemented a comprehensive communications infrastructure that brin...
19/08/2026
QuickLink, a leading provider of award-winning video production and remote guest contribution solutions, will spotlight a major leap forward in remote guest con...
19/08/2026
Integrated platform melds media asset management, playout automation and newsroom workflows
EMAM, PlayBox Neo and SNEWS have officially launched Nuvex, a conne...
19/08/2026
Screen Australia releases the Private Investment Toolkit to strengthen screen in...
19/08/2026
Do Aussies truly value local content? Unpacking Screen Currency 2026 with Deirdr...
19/08/2026
There's an early Christmas gift for Bookish fans, as UKTV confirms the re-commission of the hit U&alibi drama, created by and starring Mark Gatiss. Viewers ...
19/08/2026
Wednesday 19 August 2026
Sky gives sports fans the chance to watch multiple liv...
19/08/2026
On Saturday September 5 Katie Taylor will step into the ring for the fight of her life against Flora Pili in front of 80,000 fans in Croke Park. A legendary fig...
18/08/2026
SportStream 2026, a free three-day virtual event, will take place September 15-17. One registration provides access to all three days of live programming and on...
18/08/2026
BeckTV will introduce BeckFlow to the European market at IBC2026, demonstrated on the Providius stand (10.F53).
BeckFlow is a web-based schematic documentation...
18/08/2026
Boland Communications will introduce a SMPTE ST 2110 input option for its 4K monitors at IBC2026, along with a new 55-inch super-narrow bezel display for video ...
18/08/2026
Dolby Laboratories and the Seattle Seahawks have announced a partnership integrating Dolby OptiView into the Seahawks' live streaming coverage, making the S...
18/08/2026
For BMG Executive Producer of Sports Production, Graham Taylor, producing live s...
18/08/2026
TMRW Sports has appointed Rufus Hack as President of Golf, a newly created role in which he will lead the company's golf businesses including TGL presented ...
18/08/2026
SMT will provide race technology for FOX Sports' coverage of the Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C. on August 23, when the NTT INDYCAR SERIES races ...
18/08/2026
The live, YouTube-native roundtables combine fan voices, credentialed reporters,...
18/08/2026
Behind The Mic provides a roundup of recent news regarding on-air talent, includ...
18/08/2026
The industry legend sounds off on replacing the Heat's iconic Medusa score...
18/08/2026
William F. Rasmussen, the sports fan-turned broadcaster and entrepreneur whose out-of-the-box idea of a 24-hour cable sports network, ESPN, changed forever the ...
18/08/2026
DAZN Group has completed its acquisition of ViewLift, a provider of streaming and digital solutions for sports content owners. The acquisition was first announc...
18/08/2026
The American Association of Professional Baseball (AAPB) has added SI TV, Sports Illustrated's 24/7 streaming channel, as a broadcast partner for the remain...
18/08/2026
The Esports Foundation has announced that the inaugural Esports Nations Cup (ENC), originally scheduled for November 2026 in Riyadh, will be postponed to Novemb...
18/08/2026
Diversified has announced a new Global Managed Services Practice, consolidating the company's managed services capabilities into one organization. Rob Mello...
18/08/2026
Appear has completed a proof of concept with Thoroughbred Racing Productions (TRP), demonstrating multi-camera remote live production over bonded 5G cellular an...
Ofcom publishes new advice for using your smartphone or tablet abroad
