How to use data in Peru and Colombia

[dpv73]

Hi. I will be travelling to Peru for a week and then from there to Colombia for a week. I have a pay-as-you-go contract. How can I access data while away in those two countries? I'd be grateful for any advice as the info available on your website is not very clear.

[Peter_W · Accepted solution]

Hey there @dpv73.

Welcome to the EE Community 😊

Just as a first thing to be aware of, to activate roaming on your account you'll need to make a chargeable call or text whilst in the UK and connected with our network.

Provided you've done this, you should be all good to connect to a local network when you arrive. 

When it comes to allowances, you can check the cost of calls and texts on our roaming pages here, whilst for data you'll be presented with a link to buy a pass once you land. 

Data can be quite expensive in these locations though, so depending on what you need to use it for, it may be worth doing some research into local options too.

Peter

[dpv73]

Hi Peter,

Thanks for the info! By 'make a chargeable text or call', I assume you mean activate roaming and then just call or text someone? Is that correct? 

Thanks,

Daniel

[Peter_W]

@dpv73 This just needs to be any call or text that uses some credit

This can be any number here in the UK, and you just need to make sure you do this before travelling.

Peter

[dpv73]

OK, but with my £20 pay-as-you-go plan, I have unlimited minutes and texts. Would a text or call then count as using up credit?

Thanks.

[Peter_W]

@dpv73 Calls made within a pack wouldn't count here, this would need to be a chargeable call.

You will need to have additional credit in order to use your phone whilst out there though, so I'd recommend topping up before you go away. 

A call to customer service on 150 is a single charge of 25p, so this should be sufficient for getting this enabled.

Peter

[dpv73]

Great - thank you. I've already topped up for when I'm away. Once I've enabled roaming, I'll call 150 as you suggest. 🙂

[Peter_W]

Thanks @dpv73, enabling roaming on your phone is purely at a device level, and it's making this chargeable call that allows it at a network level.

Have a great trip!

Peter

[bristolian]

Roaming enablement is an account/SIM setting rather than a phone one.

It shouldn't be confused with "data roaming", which is a setting many phones have to allow data usage whilst already roaming.