Roaming in Morocco

[Janex1]

Hi! I went to the ee shop to ensure the correct facts about data roaming charges in Morocco. The ee assistant said ee do not have data roaming available in Morocco and so don’t do data adds ons for there. So the only solution is to buy a SIM card whilst there. I don’t want to spend the first day of my holiday buying and setting up WhatsApp etc etc for four phones and SIM cards! Please can anyone help giving advice. ee says I can not use data roaming in Morocco. How can I use data (not WiFi). I’m under contract so it’s extortionate to leave ee. Many thanks in advance. Janex1

[bristolian]

It would be helpful to be clear on terminology here.

Using a phone abroad is called roaming. "Data roaming" simply refers to using mobile data whilst roaming. No-one refers to "text message roaming" or "voice call roaming", but these would be the equivalent.

EE offer roaming in Morocco, the charges (for voice calls & texts) are set out at https://ee.co.uk/help/mobile/roaming/roaming-costs 

Data costs are in the table below, copied from Data roaming bundles PDF price guide - Morocco is in Zone D 

[Janex1]

Thank you so much. So I wonder why the ee assistant said it is not possible to use my phone on data roaming in Morocco as ee don’t sell add ons for this country and the only solution is to buy a SIM card and put it in all my families phones once there? It looks like I can from the table? So how would I start? Just by having data roaming switched on on arrival? Surely I’d have to opt in as it seems quite pricey! I’m still totally confused, sorry!! Any help gratefully received! Janex1 

[bristolian · Accepted solution]

Crucial to using your phone abroad is having access to foreign networks - without this, you won't get coverage outside the UK. This is normally done by texting ROAMING to 150 and following the prompts.

Once done, your phone should automatically connect to local networks in foreign countries, you'll receive a text message on arrival.

Calls & texts should work from the off, the welcome text advises how to purchase your chosen data add-on.

Ensure that "use mobile data" & "allow data roaming" options are both enabled in your phone's menu, they're usually on by default.

[Janex1]

Hi! Great news. But why do you think the ee in-store assistant said this isn’t possible? He said ee don’t have any network in Morocco!

Do you know how much it will cost? Someone posted a table of costs. Will it be these prices?

It seems quite pricey. Shouldn’t there be an opt in? Instead of just leaving my phone in its default selection of mobile data on and data roaming on …. and then getting a huge bill? !! (All assuming that I can even get data there. The ee assistant was fairly adamant I can’t)! Any advise appreciated.

[bristolian]

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@Janex1 wrote:
But why do you think the ee in-store assistant said this isn’t possible? He said ee don’t have any network in Morocco!

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EE are a UK operator and roaming services allow you to use local networks in foreign countries. But I'm just a user like yourself, I have no idea why the assistant mis-advised you. But it happens sometimes.

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@Janex1 wrote:

Do you know how much it will cost? Someone posted a table of costs. Will it be these prices?

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I posted a table showing the costs, yesterday at 12:03PM, together with a link to the PDF price guide where these costs were obtained from.

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@Janex1 wrote:

It seems quite pricey. Shouldn’t there be an opt in?

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Making & receiving calls, along with sending & receiving texts, will work as soon as your phone has a mobile network connection. When your phone first connects to a foreign network, you'll receive a text message with details on how to purchase data add-ons - mobile data will not work at this point. Only once you have chosen and purchased a data add-on, will mobile data be enabled for use in that country.

[Janex1]

Excellent. Thank you so much. Janex1