Is roaming voice/SMS only possible?

[ChrisCornwall19]

I'm going to be in Turkey next week. I have roaming enabled which is fine in the EU but with the cost in Turkey so high I'm planning on not using mobile data and sticking to Wi-Fi, so was going to toggle mobile data off. Roaming settings on my iPhone are only available when mobile data is on, so my question is: it is possible to have voice/SMS only roaming so that I am contactable or can make a call in an emergency, or is roaming only available when you are using data?

I've looked at eSIMs as an option but they all seem to be data only and don't include voice/SMS.

[Chris_B · Accepted solution]

@ChrisCornwall19   Data roaming is the ability to use data when abroad.  To use the device abroad you still need to have roaming enabled and you’ll still pay for any calls/texts you make 
You can switch off data roaming on the device and still make call/texts you’ll just have no data to use apps that require a data connection.   iMessage being one of them for a  start. You could even just switch off cellular data in the control centre.  

[XRaySpeX]

Yes, you may roam on calls & texts alone. You can switch data roaming OFF on your phone quite happily.

If you are on contract, just remember to text ROAMING to 150 before you leave UK to ensure the roaming ability is enabled on your account.

[bristolian]

To add, EE will only allow use of mobile data whilst roaming (data roaming) when you have a bundle or add-on covering its use.

In other words - voice roaming & text roaming will work and be charged ad-hoc. Data roaming will not.

[ChrisCornwall19]

Thanks everyone. To confirm then, on an iPhone (iOS 17.4.x):

• I go to Settings -> Mobile Service
• I toggle Mobile Data to "off" (same effect as disabling from the control panel pull down)
• This then removes any mention of roaming from the Mobile Data Options sub menu
• From what I understand you are saying, the fact that roaming is enabled for my EE account, means that even with the above settings, voice and SMS will still work (albeit at very expensive rates).

It's only for emergency use, but better to have as an option just in case.

[ChrisCornwall19]

Sorry, to ask a more specific question, in this previous answer to someone else (https://community.ee.co.uk/t5/Mobile-Services/Mobile-calls-from-Turkey/m-p/1251049/highlight/true#M2... you had said "The £2.29/day charge is incurred anyday you use your phone on an EU network and, therefore, access your UK allowances. The way to avoid incurring this charge is to avoid your phone connecting to any foreign mobile network."

Does this mean I'll be paying £2.29/day (or today's equivalent) for the privilege of being connected to a local carrier even if I don't receive or make any calls? Also I'm getting the impression I'll get billed for every "energy insulation scheme" scam phone call I receive too?

[XRaySpeX]

Turkey isn't in EU & so that £2.47 daily EU roaming charge doesn't apply.

Outside the EU, you cannot use your usual UK allowances there but will need to pay the charges or buy roaming add-ons as set out in https://ee.co.uk/help/mobile/roaming/roaming-costs/countries/turkeyandnortherncyprus.

[ChrisCornwall19]

Thanks, so although it costs £2.52 per minute to receive a call as long as I ignore any numbers I don't recognise and don't pick up then all good. Thanks - like I said, it's just nice to know the phone is there for emergency use only if needed.