A situation we are all familiar with
At the time of writing this article, the summer holidays have just begun. Many people have already flown off to their dream destinations. Whether they are relaxing at the hotel or exploring new experiences, they are living happy days.
To make their stay unforgettable, they take photos and share them on social media. Thanks to their prior research on the internet, they can engage in a variety of activities. And whenever possible, they check in with their loved ones by making a few calls.
As pleasant as their vacation may be, they will face a problem, a problem familiar to anyone who has ever traveled abroad: an unusually high bill from their phone operator. This is known as roaming charges.
What are roaming charges?
A bill more expensive than usual
When we travel outside the European Union, our phone automatically connects to a foreign network. This is called data roaming. As a result, your mobile operator pays the owner of the foreign network a fee to allow you to use your mobile services. These charges, billed by your operator for calls, SMS/MMS, and internet usage abroad, result in an additional cost on your usual bill.
International plans
It’s important to know that the fees your operator pays to the foreign network owner are very high. To reduce these costs, operators have set rules for their customers. The most well-known of these is a limit on the amount of data you can use abroad. This limit varies between operators and often depends on the type of mobile plan you have. However, mobile plans that offer a certain amount of data for use abroad tend to be quite expensive.
The European exception
To eliminate or at least limit these increasingly expensive roaming charges, the EU reached an agreement in June 2017 that the price for SMS/MMS and internet usage would be the same across Europe. So, if you are traveling within the Eurozone, roaming charges will be much lower. But if you travel outside the EU, you will still have to pay the price. There are, however, tricks to reduce these charges, though they are not always ideal.
Double-edged tips
Connect to Wi-Fi networks
To avoid roaming charges, many people see Wi-Fi as the ideal solution. It is often available at airports, restaurants, or hotels. However, using public Wi-Fi to access the internet is risky because hackers frequently hijack the network you are on to steal your personal data, from your browsing history to the passwords for your email or bank accounts.
Disable mobile data
By turning off mobile data in your phone's settings, you will no longer be able to access the internet unless you are connected to Wi-Fi. However, this does not block calls or SMS. To fully block them, you would need to either turn on airplane mode or remove your SIM card. But as you can imagine, this practice is quite inconvenient, especially if you want to enjoy your vacation without sacrificing modern conveniences.
Buy a prepaid SIM card
Another way to avoid roaming charges is by purchasing a prepaid SIM card. Without any long-term commitment, you are free to use it whenever you want and recharge it as needed. This flexibility means you are not tied to a monthly subscription.
For frequent travelers, an international prepaid card can be very beneficial. But for occasional travelers, this type of card is often not cost-effective, as the costs for calls, SMS/MMS, and internet usage in most countries are generally quite high.
Blockchain and telecommunications: A hopeful solution
Dent: A decentralized marketplace
Dent, launched in 2017, offers a platform where users can buy and sell mobile data plans in the form of eSIMs (virtual SIM cards). The platform aims to simplify the complex and fragmented telecom industry and reduce costs through blockchain technology.
Currently, Dent has over 26 million users, and the platform offers access to more than 220 mobile operators in 142 countries. The decentralized network offers more security and lower costs for network activities like SMS/MMS, calls, and internet access.
The DENT token
The DENT token plays a crucial role within the platform as it facilitates the buying and selling of mobile data on the marketplace. The total supply of DENT is 100 billion units, and it has significant liquidity, with a daily trading volume of over $8 million.
