If you are travelling, you may be wondering – Can I use my BT Mobile abroad? When travelling out of the country, one of the major concerns is the ability to use your phone.
It is necessary to verify the usability of your phone abroad before travelling.
BT users can use their mobile for both data and voice purposes in various countries. The terms of using BT in different countries however vary depending on the jurisdiction.
Even though you are allowed to use BT abroad, it is important to get more details depending on the region.
This article will answer various questions in regard to using BT data and voice abroad. Keep on reading for more.
How Do I Use BT Mobile Abroad?
The good news for BT mobile users is that their phone and sim are already set up for use abroad.
The BT user can enjoy both voice and data abroad but different charges may apply depending on location.
Using BT abroad is much easier when you are within Europe. Within the EU countries, BT abroad basically operates in the same way as it operates within the UK.
So if you are asking – can I use my BT mobile data abroad, you have nothing to worry about.
If you will be travelling to any country where BT SIM works you do not have to do anything to change your phone settings. Your phone is already set to operate in any country where BT works.
The only setting adjustments you may make on your device is changing the network selection settings.
Most phones are set to select a network automatically but some are not. If yours is not, change the settings so that the phone selects the network automatically.
Does BT Mobile Work in All Countries?
BT Mobile is available in almost all countries with a few exceptions.
If you are thinking about data and voice usage, you will find BT networks in all countries except the following:
| Ascension Island | Comoros | Christmas Islands |
| Cocos Islands | Diego Garcia | Eritrea |
| East Timor | French Polynesia | Kiribati |
| Mayotte | Marshall Islands | Micronesia |
| New Caledonia | Nauru | North Korea |
| Niue | Norfolk Island | Northern Marianas |
| Palau | Sao Tome and Principe | St Helena |
| Ross Island | Somalia | Tokelau |
| Rodriguez Island | Solomon Islands | Tuvalu |
| Samoa (US) |
Most of the countries on the list are small islands that may not have proper network infrastructure.
Countries Where You Can Only Use Voice
The idea a person has when they travel with a phone abroad is that they can use the phone normally.
Unfortunately, network coverage and laws governing telecommunications may affect the features offered.
For BT Mobile users, there are some countries where voice is supported but data roaming is not.
These countries include
| Angola | Costa Rica | Kyrgyzstan Republic | Libya |
| Belize | Djibouti | Malawi | Monaco |
| Bahamas | Ethiopia | Mauritania | Niger |
| Burkina Faso | Equatorial Guinea | Nepal | Papua New Guinea |
| Bhutan | Falkland Islands | San Marino | Sierra Leone |
| Burundi | The Gambia | Sudan | Suriname |
| Chad | Guam | St Pierre and Miquelon | Syria |
| Central African Republic | Guinea Bissau | Swaziland | Togo |
| Cook Islands | Guatemala | Turkmenistan | Tonga |
| Cuba | Iran | Uzbekistan |
Note: In some international territories, you may enjoy data roaming but at lower speeds.
You may be forced to change the network type to 3G or 4G in many countries with poor coverage.
Can I Choose a Different Mobile Provider When Roaming Abroad?
BT Mobile does not offer local breakout (LBO) that allows users to keep data services but not voice within the EU. There are other network providers that offer this feature.
Ideally, you cannot change your mobile provider for either data or voice when abroad.
This applies to all countries including EU members. In simple terms, you should get everything you need abroad on your BT Mobile.
Can I Use my BT Mobile Abroad With Plan Allowance?
There are 47 countries where your BT plan works exactly as it would if you were in the UK.
In these countries, you are allowed to use your BT plan allowance abroad. Further, you will also enjoy the BT Roam Like Home feature.
These countries are:
| Austria | Czech Republic | Germany | Italy |
| Belgium | Denmark | Greece | Latvia |
| Bulgaria | Estonia | Hungary | Lithuania |
| Croatia | Finland | Ireland | Malta |
| Cyprus | France | Isle of Man | Monaco |
| Netherlands | Poland | Slovakia | Slovenia |
| Portugal | Romania | Spain | Sweden |
| Vatican City | Canary Islands | French Guiana | Gibraltar |
| Liechtenstein | Mayotte | Reunion | Saint Barthelemy |
| Martinique | Norway | Saint Martin | Switzerland |
| Guadeloupe | Guernsey | Iceland | Jersey |
BT Roam Like Home?
The BT roam-like-home feature allows users to use BT mobile data abroad without undergoing extra charges.
Normally, you will be charged extra for roaming in foreign countries. With BT, these 47 countries allow you to roam without being charged extra.
Further, you can also receive calls and texts for free when in these areas. Ideally, you won’t notice any difference between BT in the UK and these countries.
Note: While charges will remain the same, there might be gaps in network coverage. You may have to use 4G or 3G in some places.
What is Included in Roam Like Home
This package offers almost all the services that you will receive in the UK. Among the features you can expect include:
- Calls and SMS from the UK and back including from landlines
- Calls and messages to landlines and mobile devices from any Roam Like Home country.
- Normal data usage at normal rates
- Normal allowance rates once your plan expires or allowance is used up
- Free calls to emergency numbers 150, 151 and 154
- Free calls to numbers starting with 0800, 0808, and 0500
- Free calls to 1571
What to Cary for BT Mobile Usage Abroad
Before you set out for your journey abroad, ensure that you have everything needed to make and receive calls.
This means you need your SIM card and a device that receives calls and messages.
When you arrive at your destination, BT will automatically detect the change of location. They will send you messages to keep you updated on what you can do to enjoy their services.
Note: Different countries have different charges for data and texts. Make sure you enquire about such before visiting.
Does BT Charge Unexpected Bills?
The biggest concern among those travelling abroad is the possibility of being hit with unexpected bills. This often happens due to data charges that occur unexpectedly.
The main cause of unexpected charges is data roaming in a destination that does not have network coverage.
As long as you have turned data roaming on, you will be charged whether there is coverage or not.
To avoid this, you may consider turning off data roaming in countries without BT data coverage.
Alternatively, you may want to set a data cap. Visit BT Mobile data management and set your preferred data cap for usage abroad before travelling.
Alternatively, simply turn off data from the settings section of your phone. To turn off data, pull the drop-down menu on your notifications bar and tap on the data icon.
What Happens If I Go Over My Allowance Abroad
It is normal for people to go over their allowance while abroad. This does not mean that you have to stop using BT.
Even if you go over your allowance you will still have access to BT usage options.
Normally, you will be informed if you are about to run out of allowance. BT sends you a message when your allowance is 80% used up.
You will also get a notification message once your allowance is used up.
You can increase your allowance when roaming. You may either upgrade your mobile to a bigger allowance or boost your allowance using BT Mobile UK add-ons.
Tip: It is better to have sufficient recharge before you head abroad.
Conclusion
If you are the one asking, can I use my BT Mobile abroad, you have your answer. It is very possible to use BT abroad in almost all countries.
Check the above details o see if the country you are travelling to is covered.
Read Next: How to Fix BT Mobile Data Not Working?
Finn Wheatley holds a Master’s Degree in Computer Science from UCL, London. He helped small data science consultancy firms, helping large corporations to grow their data capabilities, deploy advanced machine learning-based analytics and troubleshoot tech-related issues. Check out more about him here.