Cannot receive calls whilst abroad

[DundeePadawan]

I am having similar trouble whilst in Denmark;

Roaming Active - Via roaming abroad add-on

No call diversion active.

I cannot receive calls whilst I am in Denmark. Its an english message coming through saying i am unavailable so its an EE problem, not the local network (which would be Danish).

iPhone 13 pro

[bristolian]

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@DundeePadawan wrote:

Roaming Active - Via roaming abroad add-on

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Regardless of any billing add-on, your ability to get coverage abroad (which calls, texts & mobile data rely on) is dependent on roaming being activated - which allows your phone to connect to foreign networks.

On PAYG, this is auto-enabled once your phone is used in the UK first.
On pay-monthly, this needs to be enabled manually - usually by texting ROAMING to 150 before leaving the UK. Did you do this?

If you are on pay-monthly and now find yourself abroad without having enabled roaming, your only recourse will be to contact CS to request it activated. You can either contact +44 7953 966150 from another working phone, or +44 800 9566000 using a web-calling app such as Skype over WiFi.

[DundeePadawan]

So if I have the roaming abroad add on active, I still need to manually activate roaming on my phone? The EE system cannot determine if I am using my handset abroad or not according to my usage?

[bristolian]

Billing add-ons are just that, a facility to reduce the cost of using a service. You still need to enable the facility itself.

It is the roaming facility which unlocks access to foreign networks. Lack of doing so means no access to foreign networks - the rest of your symptoms naturally follow.

[DundeePadawan]

I've seen previous threads with solutions claiming that simply rebooting my phone abroad would initiate the roaming feature? And I get a text from EE with each country I land in, so they know I am in a different state. I also have to text ROAMING to 150 to activate it?

[DundeePadawan]

I am connected to the Telia network in Denmark. My phone connects just fine - I can use my data and can receive text messages. I get a confirmation text message that I am roaming in Denmark when I boot my phone when I land.

I cannot receive normal network phone calls. WhatsApp works fine. Facebook messenger works fine. My text messages aren't affected, but my phone calls do not connect nor can I take a call over the network. 

[bristolian]

If roaming is enabled but you have problems connecting to a specific local network, then either a toggle of flight mode and/or manual selection often resolves that.

If roaming is not enabled on your SIM, no amount of reboots will solve that. Texting ROAMING to 150 needs to be done before leaving the UK.

As per my original post, if you are abroad without enabling roaming, you have no network coverage to send text messages or make/receive calls. That is the catch-22 scenario and why you need to use a alternative method to make contact.

[DundeePadawan]

I am connected to the local network - roaming is enabled in one form,  i can send/receive text messages or use my data with no issue. Just no phone calls?

So to my understanding with what you have said, I need to enable roaming to even connect with the local network. So how am i connected to the local network and can text or use data, when I haven't enabled roaming by texting 150?

[bristolian]

If you are connected to a local network, then roaming is enabled - this is why it's helpful to be clear on what services are & aren't working. Many posters come on here with very basic detail and thus a standard reply is often used!

Have you tried connecting to alternative local operators? You're within the EU, thus outgoing texts & mobile data use are all covered within the same daily charge - this rules out a spend cap issue.

[DundeePadawan]

I seem to be locked into an automatic selection because whenever I go to change the option to manual, it doesnt load properly. I'll try it again now, but it does seem like I am locked into Telia.