Article: How Vodafone’s $5 Global Roaming Compares to Optus & Telstra

[AFF Editor]

How Vodafone’s $5 Global Roaming Compares to Optus & Telstra is an article written by the AFF editorial team:

https://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/?p=76626

You can leave a comment or discuss this topic below.

 

[Journeyman]

Good summary article but you need to mention which ones allow one when roaming to"
1. Make local calls in the country in which you're roaming
2. Make international calls to a third country.
Felix roaming pack is great BUT does not allow for local calling so I need to get an eSim. Orange Traveller is pretty good.

 

[SYD]

It was mentioned here, that Telstra prepaid has some interesting roaming packages.

Best options for making cheap calls/text when OS?

So what are peeps doing these days for cheap calls/text back to Oz, or local/international calls/text while you’re travelling OS? Background. Since 2019 I’ve had the Optus $50 plan that included roaming data, unlimited calls & text when OS (to/from select countries) and calls/text from Oz to OS...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

Be aware that the Optus $5 pd roaming can be a bit flaky. If you turn it on and leave it on (you’ll probably be fine - just don’t go over 5GB or you get charged another $5 for ea 5GB extra - as mentioned in the article).

But if you try to use it on demand (ie only on days you need to) you still might get a random activation and be charged $5 (charged immediately to your payment method). This happened to me and SYD+1 twice (seperate times) during a 5 wk visit to Canada/USA. We managed to get the charges refunded but dealing with the Optus support team is very hit and miss.

On one occasion I did consciously activate $5 roaming, they charged me twice in the space of 2 hrs (I’d used all of about about 60MB data when the 2nd charge landed).

Also, some call diversions (to voicemail) can trigger roaming….

Unfortunately, there’s no option in the app to disable $5 pd roaming and just rely on PAYG (handy for sending a txt, but with obvious risks if data roaming is turned on). Optus advice to avoid being charged is leave your phone in flight mode and/or remove the SIM…

We managed to get by only needing Optus roaming a couple days and eSIMs for data the rest of the time.

Good summary article but you need to mention which ones allow one when roaming to"
1. Make local calls in the country in which you're roaming
2. Make international calls to a third country.
Felix roaming pack is great BUT does not allow for local calling so I need to get an eSim. Orange Traveller is pretty good.

The three big telco packages generally provide this (but there are limitations on which other countries you can call while overseas). Confusingly, the list of countries you can call from overseas with Optus is different to the countries you can call from Australia under the associated bundle).

 

[Journeyman]

Thanks. Didn't know that. I'm going to be travelling (slowly) for a year from Jan so will use Felix for to/from Aus as really like the 365 day term and use Orange Travel eSIM 14 day for the ability to call in country and without.

 

[Portsoft]

How Vodafone’s $5 Global Roaming Compares to Optus & Telstra is an article written by the AFF editorial team:

https://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/?p=76626

You can leave a comment or discuss this topic below.

Hi, You didn't mention the very good $5 deal that Australia Post offers through Optus

International Roaming - Australia Post Mobile

Heading overseas? Stay connected with our 30-day International Roaming plan.

australiapostconnect.com.au

for $5 you get 30 day expiry 50 mins talk, 50 SMS and 50mb of data..
you can double that for another $5 .
Some one will certainly say that 50mb isn't nearly enough which is true , but given most hotels have free wifi and you can apparently attach that to your mobile account as well

 

[AIRwin]

International Roaming - Australia Post Mobile

Heading overseas? Stay connected with our 30-day International Roaming plan.

australiapostconnect.com.au

for $5 you get 30 day expiry 50 mins talk, 50 SMS and 50mb of data..
you can double that for another $5 .

How does this work with keeping the existing number? Is it the same as porting? Soft port @Portsoft ?

 

[GoldenTouchdown]

I remember more than 5 or so years ago Telstra used to include international roaming in some higher end postpaid plans, with unlimited calls/texts and a monthly data allowance. Was great value for long/ frequent Int. trips.

Wish they brought back plans with such inclusions, paying $10 a day per person when travelling overseas adds up! Their latest mobile plan offerings are so tepid compared with the competition, but their domestic network coverage keeps us tied.

 

[SYD]

I remember more than 5 or so years ago Telstra used to include international roaming in some higher end postpaid plans, with unlimited calls/texts and a monthly data allowance. Was great value for long/ frequent Int. trips.

Wish they brought back plans with such inclusions, paying $10 a day per person when travelling overseas adds up! Their latest mobile plan offerings are so tepid compared with the competition, but their domestic network coverage keeps us tied.

Optus had an excellent plan(s) that in included roaming and calls from Oz. Unfortunately they’ve cancelled them…

Optus new $50 SIM only with roaming

Optus have a new $50/mth SIM only plan with unlimited calls and data in “Zone 1” countries, and 4GB Roaming Data a month. I think it’s probably one of the best roaming deals out there as there’s no daily fee, and no limit on number of days as far as I can see. I found out about it in my The...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

Hi, You didn't mention the very good $5 deal that Australia Post offers through Optus

International Roaming - Australia Post Mobile

Heading overseas? Stay connected with our 30-day International Roaming plan.

australiapostconnect.com.au

for $5 you get 30 day expiry 50 mins talk, 50 SMS and 50mb of data..
you can double that for another $5 .
Some one will certainly say that 50mb isn't nearly enough which is true , but given most hotels have free wifi and you can apparently attach that to your mobile account as well

If they offered an eSIM version that would be a good companion plan for roaming. The Telstra prepaid is probably better.

International roaming on Telstra Prepaid Plans

Learn about Telstra's prepaid plans with international call minutes and texts from Australia to 88 destinations. Choose a prepaid SIM and active your plan.

www.telstra.com.au

They offer eSIM a range cheapish prepaid plans you add the roaming bundle.

 

[Portsoft]

How does this work with keeping the existing number? Is it the same as porting? Soft port @Portsoft ?

During the activation process, you get the option to add this SIM to your current existing number
It does say that your provider may charge you for doing that .. given that I have a Boost 12mth Sim I'm sure they would , their roaming package is $40 for 7 days with 3gb of data ..

That said it's only really worth it if you will rely on hotel free wifi for websurfing and anything more than really basic data use. I added another $5 pack to give me 100 of each.

 

[SydneySwan]

The big problem with Vodafone is that Dubai is not included in the $5 per day but charges $1 per MB and $1 per 1 minute on calls. However Qatar is included. Mrs SS has run up big bills inadvertently on past Dubai stopovers so now she routes to Europe on Qatar Airways rather than Qantas / Emirates.

 

[SYD]

The big problem with Vodafone is that Dubai is not included in the $5 per day but charges $1 per MB and $1 per 1 minute on calls. However Qatar is included. Mrs SS has run up big bills inadvertently on past Dubai stopovers so now she routes to Europe on Qatar Airways rather than Qantas / Emirates.

Certainly pays to check coverage very carefully!

Does the Vodafone app give you the option to turn off PAYG?

 

[encryptededdy]

Probably also worth mentioning that Telstra allows WiFi calling (and SMS/MMS) whilst overseas without generating roaming charges, whereas neither Optus nor Vodafone allow overseas WiFi calling. If combined with a local SIM on a dual SIM phone and the appropriate configuration, you can make "WiFi" calls on your Telstra SIM out through the data connection of your local SIM.

 

[Lat34]

... If combined with a local SIM on a dual SIM phone and the appropriate configuration, you can make "WiFi" calls on your Telstra SIM out through the data connection of your local SIM.

Could you elaborate the above process a bit more please... asking for a friend

 

[encryptededdy]

Could you elaborate the above process a bit more please... asking for a friend

On the Google Pixel it's called "Backup Calling", and if you enable it it will try using the data of your other (non-roaming) SIM to call if your Telstra SIM is roaming or has no signal. This is the easiest to set up.

On Samsung phones it's a bit janky. If you have Auto Data Switching and Wifi Calling enabled then Backup Calling is enabled, but will only kick in if your Telstra SIM has no signal (not when roaming). This is a bit annoying, but I find a workaround is to use the "Network Operators" menu to select a unsupported network, thus forcing a no signal condition, thereby causing Backup Calling to be enabled.

If working it'll show something like this (the phone with SIM 2 icon). This means my SIM 1 is Wifi calling through the data connection of SIM 2.

I don't personally have an iPhone, but it works similarly to the Samsung situation described above as I understand. You need to enable "Allow Cellular Data Switching" then set your Telstra SIM to a no signal state whilst your other SIM has a data connection (probably by using the network operators menu and selecting an unsupported network too). In your iPhone control center for your carriers it should then say something like "Telstra (using Cellular Data)".

Maybe I'll write up a dedicated thread in this forum about it.

 

[Lat34]

On the Google Pixel it's called "Backup Calling", and if you enable it it will try using the data of your other (non-roaming) SIM to call if your Telstra SIM is roaming or has no signal. This is the easiest to set up.

On Samsung phones it's a bit janky. If you have Auto Data Switching and Wifi Calling enabled then Backup Calling is enabled, but will only kick in if your Telstra SIM has no signal (not when roaming). This is a bit annoying, but I find a workaround is to use the "Network Operators" menu to select a unsupported network, thus forcing a no signal condition, thereby causing Backup Calling to be enabled.

If working it'll show something like this (the phone with SIM 2 icon). This means my SIM 1 is Wifi calling through the data connection of SIM 2. View attachment 349661

I don't personally have an iPhone, but it works similarly to the Samsung situation described above as I understand. You need to enable "Allow Cellular Data Switching" then set your Telstra SIM to a no signal state whilst your other SIM has a data connection (probably by using the network operators menu and selecting an unsupported network too). In your iPhone control center for your carriers it should then say something like "Telstra (using Cellular Data)".

Maybe I'll write up a dedicated thread in this forum about it.

thanks so much for this information. I think I get it and fortunately have both iPhone 12 (Aldi/ Telstra) and Samsung S22 (Telstra) at my disposal so will give it a try. Aldi says: All our ALDImobile Mobile and Family Plans, and Super Packs come with WiFi Calling as standard ... check them out now to enjoy more ways to stay connected and keep the conversation going

A dedicated thread would be an excellent idea if/ when you have time. TIA

 

[Thibault]

Vodafone now supports inflight roaming with $5/day pricing.

In-flight Roaming

Use your included data, calls and texts on selected flights with participating international airlines for $5 extra a day.

www.vodafone.com.au

 

[SYD]

Vodafone now supports inflight roaming with $5/day pricing.

In-flight Roaming

Use your included data, calls and texts on selected flights with participating international airlines for $5 extra a day.

www.vodafone.com.au

Saw an article about this yesterday. Hopefully it will shake up the local telcos to do better. I’m looking to ditch Optus post dropping the free global roaming. Vodafone and Belong are on the short list.

 

[Thibault]

I've also seen a Birdie E-sim that supports inflight-roaming.

Birdie | Travel SIM

自由鳥,遨遊SIM係一張可以在超過50個國家都用得的漫遊數據卡,Travel SIM,A reusable data SIM that takes you to over 50 countries

www.birdie.com.hk

Haven't seen many reports about it.

I am now on a default setup with Boost as my main sim + then an e-sim for all my trips.
Works well, reliable and cheap.

 

[ronlon]

On a recent 21 day trip to the USA, Optus charged me about 7-8 daily roaming $5 charges for days in which there was no usage at all. Yes I received a refund but if I had not reconciled and studied the invoice etc and then call to complain it probably would have been missed.

 

[SYD]

On a recent 21 day trip to the USA, Optus charged me about 7-8 daily roaming $5 charges for days in which there was no usage at all. Yes I received a refund but if I had not reconciled and studied the invoice etc and then call to complain it probably would have been missed.

Hard to miss when they send a txt and email and charge you $5 directly at the time. Well, that’s been our experience on the new plan.

We also had a few random activations in the US (and once in Canada). They deny it’s a problem with their system but during one chat (1st time it happened), the tech support person mentioned that there had been some “minimal data usage” - even though Data Roaming was turned off. I gather that there might be some network handshaking that triggers the false activation.

Their FAQ also vaguely mentions that some call diversions “may” activate roaming…

I’m currently travelling around SE Asia and (touch wood) haven’t had any false activations across 5 countries.