Data only SIM card for England and Italy
#21
Join Date: Oct 2013
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Does anyone have a link for these Tre plans? I just checked their web page, and the only no-contract data-only plans I see have to be renewed monthly.
Data roaming costs are supposed to go away altogether within the EU by June 15th of this year. This was postponed once before, but it appears to be on track for this year. If so, there will be no reason to buy a new SIM card in each country, as long as you're staying within the EU. The last I heard, there was some provision to prevent cross-border provider shopping, so that if you bought a SIM card in Italy, but seemed to be mostly using it in France, there would be some sort of penalty. There were complaints that this would unfairly penalize students studying abroad within Europe, but I can see how such a provision might also hit tourists.
Data roaming costs are supposed to go away altogether within the EU by June 15th of this year. This was postponed once before, but it appears to be on track for this year. If so, there will be no reason to buy a new SIM card in each country, as long as you're staying within the EU. The last I heard, there was some provision to prevent cross-border provider shopping, so that if you bought a SIM card in Italy, but seemed to be mostly using it in France, there would be some sort of penalty. There were complaints that this would unfairly penalize students studying abroad within Europe, but I can see how such a provision might also hit tourists.
#22
We're going to be in Italy from mid-Sept to mid-Oct. Two questions: 1.) Is the SIM card good for 28-30 days no matter when it is purchased/activated, or only until the end of the month? 2.) Where can one purchase a Tre card in Florence? How about Rome?
Thanks for all the info!
Thanks for all the info!
#26
Join Date: Feb 2003
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Dave_Ohio, here is an example from the UK provider EE. Scroll down to the FAQs and click on + How do packs work? The other providers, Vodafone, O2, Three etc work the same.
http://shop.ee.co.uk/sim-only/pay-as-you-go-phones
http://shop.ee.co.uk/sim-only/pay-as-you-go-phones
#27
Join Date: May 2010
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"You will need seperate SIMS for each country, since data roaming is still at a premium. Next year roaming charges are dropped (assuming the UK is still in the EU at that time). Prices for data roaming fall in May, but aren't abolished until 2017. If you decide you use a single sim and accept the extra roaming charges check that the sim you use will actually allow roaming. Not all do."
Actually, the EU free roaming is suppose to start on June 15. The EU has been touting Roam Like At Home for years. They just came to an agreement on February 1 for wholesale roaming charges so now the EU Parliament and the member states are suppose to ratify in time for June 15, less than 3 months away.
http://www.bbc.com/news/business-38825154
However, if you buy a prepaid SIM in the UK after Brexit occurs, it may not have RLAH features.
Actually, the EU free roaming is suppose to start on June 15. The EU has been touting Roam Like At Home for years. They just came to an agreement on February 1 for wholesale roaming charges so now the EU Parliament and the member states are suppose to ratify in time for June 15, less than 3 months away.
http://www.bbc.com/news/business-38825154
However, if you buy a prepaid SIM in the UK after Brexit occurs, it may not have RLAH features.
#29
Join Date: May 2010
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"Many hotels and restaurants provide free wifi in the UK and especially in London. I often go into pret a manger, buy a cup of soup and sit for an hour or so using their free wifi so it isn't that much of an issue. Have you looked at 3 UK? Like everything else, this is coming down."
Hotel wifi is often poor, especially if they hire some company to manage it for them, which means they try to control the speeds. Often means too slow for video streaming for example.
Public wifi can be risky, leaving yourself vulnerable to hackers. Consider getting VPN service when using public wifi.
If mobile data prices are decent, that's the way to go.
Hotel wifi is often poor, especially if they hire some company to manage it for them, which means they try to control the speeds. Often means too slow for video streaming for example.
Public wifi can be risky, leaving yourself vulnerable to hackers. Consider getting VPN service when using public wifi.
If mobile data prices are decent, that's the way to go.
#30
Join Date: Jan 2003
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Also to contradict myself, some hotels charge an arm and a leg, well at least an arm, for their wifi. Indeed it is a catch as catch thing obviously. And I do agree that I would probably hesitate to do my banking on a public wifi network although I have to sometimes and indeed hold my breath.
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