Internet Sims for HSDPA Data Dongles in EU.
 

We'll be visiting Italy, France and UK in a few weeks and will take a Netbook to access the Internet. In Australia when travelling we use a USB HSPDA Data Dongle, this seems to work very well for us. On our trip we will be taking a series of escorted coach tours so would like to use the Data Dongle to access the Internet.

Has anyone used a Data Dongle whilst travelling in different EU countries? Would we need a different SIM for each country or are SIMs available that can be used in a few countries without having to pay huge diversion costs when you cross borders. Can anyone recommend a good provider that will cover Italy, France and UK? Is it ever a problem for non-residents to purchase a SIM in an EU Country?

I'm in the UK so can't say for other countries - but here just buy a PAYG sim card, load it up and put it in your dongle.

A sim should cost about £1 - sometimes they are free

I am not sure whether using a sim alone is sufficient as I think many operators offer dongles with embedded software which does not make them interchangeable. However, you say you are in Australia where there is the Three network. They are present in both the UK and Italy. I have posted on a number of occasions that they offer the best top up sim card in Italy - see

One of the best deals is with 3 - see http://www.tre.it/public/scheda_pian...ref=6_1&type=R,

10 cents a minute towards all Italian numbers (both mobile plus fixed lines), no fixed charge made per call, 10 cents per text message. There is a one off charge of 5 euros to activate this option. In addition it is possible with 3 to pay 5 euros per month to have 3GB of data which will enable you to use Skype (I think the latest version of Skype mobile allows Skype out) as well as navigate to check train timetables, send and receive emails etc. Calls to the US cost 25 cents (Euros) a minute but of course are Skype out rates are far less. Skype works on the 3 network so you don't need to look for a wireless signal.

No-one offers a better deal than this for a top up phone card.

In Italy (but not in the UK I believe) they offer a special rates in other Three countries.

Perhaps your local Three dealer may be able to help. As far as France is concerned I have no info.

Most dongles (USB stick modems) are locked to the network that supplied them, so you need to get them unlocked if you want to use SIMs from different operators. Or if you have an unlocked mobile phone with HSDPA (3.5G) capability (most smartphones), you can use that instead with appropriate SIM and data cable (usually supplied with phone).
To my knowledge, there is no single SIM that offers fixed-price (not per MB download) deal in several countries, so you need to buy one for each country you visit. UK and Italy have such deals, but can't find one for France. In UK, with several operators, among them T-Mobile, Vodafone, Three and O2, their pay-as-you-go SIM can work on a fixed daily rate basis (from £1-£2 a day). In Italy, Vodafone has a spcial deal with iPhone for 1.50 euro/day (max 500MB download) or 5 euro/day for mobile broadband with other 3G phones. Three also have data bundles, and if you roam on UK's Three, you get similar but slightly increased rates.
While the EU has capped roaming charges for voice calls and SMS, for data use there is at present no cap for consumers - only for operators themselves in how much they can charge each other.

Many thanks for all that information, it gives me a really good idea of what to look for. Your information was particularly useful Alec and I'll start off with enquiries to the operators that you mention, many thanks. Fortunately my dongle isn't locked into any company so that's one less thing to worry about. The prices mentioned seem to be real good, much better than the prices that some hotels charge, a couple of years ago one in Germany wanted only €45 per hour, a few doors away there was an Internet Café charging €3 for the same thing.

Incidentally in Iceland three years ago all but one hotel had free wifi that was plenty fast enough for e-mail, some downloading and using Skype.

Many thanks for the information everyone.

Nigel

If you are in Australia you might want to consider Tre Italia (as already recommended by me) as they have a special one month tariff for certain countries. For Euros 15 you can make unlimited calls to fixed lines in Australia and most European countries as well as mobiles to certain other countries - see http://www.tre.it/public/scheda_opzi...OF=88&ref=22_1 This only works when your phone is manually under the Three network.

I am so convinced that this network is the most advantageous for Fodorites in Italy that if there is enough demand I may translate the important sections into English.

Thought I'd replied Nochblad. I'm really only looking for a data SIM that I can use in my HSDPA USB Dongle to access the Internet. Don't really have any need to make phone calls, to be honest I not really much of a telephone user.

This is the breakdown for Italy.

http://www.prepaidgsm.net/en/italia/data_italy.html

For other countries, there's similar info although not as detailed.

But France probably has more expensive plans.

Nigel I gave all the details for the benefit of readers but included therein was reference to the data package of 3GB for a month for Euros 5 as confirmed in the fantastic site illustrated by scrb11. Fodors should install a pop-up with this info anytime a question is asked on mobile charges in Italy!

Well I've had replies from the various suppliers in the EU, seems that none can help me because they can only deal with people who have a permanent address in Europe or their Sims will only work in the dongles that they supply. I had hoped to have something arranged in advance but seems like I'll now have to visit the retailers when I get there, I'm sure there will be some enterprising ones who will be able to assist me. Nochblad I'll certainly look out for a retailer for that firm in Italy, pity it now seems to be the last of the three countries that we will visit.

Most of the recent models of laptops and netbooks have a slot to take a Sim for travellers to access the Internet so the ISPs in Europe are certainly missing out on a lot of business, they do not seem to understand their own business. One firm tried to sign me up for a long term contract on a Blackberry, this firm seemed to be greed driven rather than practical, a long term contract is of no use to a short term traveller.

More and more hotels are now including a free internet connection so I might be able to get by on that, some limit it to 30 minutes a day which is plenty to download e-mail and a quick bit of browsing.

Thanks to everyone for their help. When we return from the holiday I'll add a bit here to let you know how I got on with an Internet connection.

You know how to configure APN, Password and whatever else may be needed, right. You're aware there is NO additional software needed except the driver and that info to configure your stick to use with any providers SIM/USIM card, right?

I hope you're using Windows.

He said netbooks so of course it's Windows.

That said, most of these keys come with Mac software and drivers too.

In Italy, WIND and Vodaphone at least have Mac software for their network, where the APN is already set.

Some of the keys you can get in eBay may not necessarily have Windows 7 drivers yet.

>course it's Windows.
Really? Let me tell you that there are a zillion cheapo non Windows "Netbooks" around.

I'm not worrying about it now. McDonalds & Starbucks have free wifi, we'll make do with that. Thanks for everyone's help.

Depending on where you go in Italy, you may not find a Starbucks or a McDonalds.

you might want to take a look at this - http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/0..._n_611372.html

In France, in addition to McDonalds, many tourist information offices offer free wifi.
Not all McDonalds do though, and depending on where you are they can be hard to find.

I don't think I ever saw a Starbucks in Italy.

McDonalds seems to require a cell phone with an Italian SIM where they will text you the password.

Starbucks cannot compete on either price or quality. Period.