Roaming long term

madhumitasharma · ‎21-03-2026

Hi EE,

I’m an EE pay‑monthly SIM‑only customer and I’m considering moving to India long term, but expect to return to the UK after a few months or years. During that time abroad, I’d like to keep my current number active so I can continue receiving SMS one‑time passwords from UK banks and other services.

Please could you confirm whether:
(a) I can keep my number on a low‑cost pay‑monthly SIM‑only plan while living abroad, and
(b) with international roaming enabled, I will still be able to receive SMS messages (including OTPs) in India, as long as my phone is connected to an EE partner network there?

Many thanks,
Maddy

XRaySpeX · ‎21-03-2026

Cancel your contract & ask for it to be moved to PAYG. During the next 30 days during the notice period while in UK top it up & make a call or text. Then you may use it abroad. Receiving texts are free worldwide.

To save the SIM going into hibernation due to lack of use, just remember within every 179 days (~ 6 months) to make a chargeable action like making a chargeable call or text, topping up or buying a Pack or Add-on, not just using your mins, texts or data from any Pack or Add-on you might have.

As regards keeping it on contract there is Stable Links FUP while roaming requiring you to not use it for more than 2 months while abroad in any 4 month period in order to benefit from EE's roaming plans..

If you think I helped please feel free to hit the "Thumbs Up" button below.

To phone EE CS: Dial Freephone +44 800 079 8586 - Option 1 for Home Broadband & Home Phone or Option 2 for Mobile Phone & Mobile Broadband

ISPs: 1999: Freeserve 48K Dial-Up > 2005: Wanadoo 1 Meg BB > 2007: Orange 2 Meg BB > 2008: Orange 8 Meg LLU > 2010: Orange 16 Meg LLU > 2011: Orange 20 Meg WBC > 2014: EE 20 Meg WBC > 2020: EE 40 Meg FTTC > 2022:EE 80 Meg FTTC SoGEA > 2025 EE 150 Meg FTTP

View solution in original post

XRaySpeX · ‎21-03-2026

Cancel your contract & ask for it to be moved to PAYG. During the next 30 days during the notice period while in UK top it up & make a call or text. Then you may use it abroad. Receiving texts are free worldwide.

To save the SIM going into hibernation due to lack of use, just remember within every 179 days (~ 6 months) to make a chargeable action like making a chargeable call or text, topping up or buying a Pack or Add-on, not just using your mins, texts or data from any Pack or Add-on you might have.

As regards keeping it on contract there is Stable Links FUP while roaming requiring you to not use it for more than 2 months while abroad in any 4 month period in order to benefit from EE's roaming plans..

If you think I helped please feel free to hit the "Thumbs Up" button below.

To phone EE CS: Dial Freephone +44 800 079 8586 - Option 1 for Home Broadband & Home Phone or Option 2 for Mobile Phone & Mobile Broadband

ISPs: 1999: Freeserve 48K Dial-Up > 2005: Wanadoo 1 Meg BB > 2007: Orange 2 Meg BB > 2008: Orange 8 Meg LLU > 2010: Orange 16 Meg LLU > 2011: Orange 20 Meg WBC > 2014: EE 20 Meg WBC > 2020: EE 40 Meg FTTC > 2022:EE 80 Meg FTTC SoGEA > 2025 EE 150 Meg FTTP

Northerner · ‎22-03-2026

Hi @madhumitasharma

Try looking here:

https://www.swytch.com/

https://xpatfone.com

https://www.aa.net.uk/voice-and-mobile/

If you are looking long term and want to keep/use your number.

Thanks

To contact EE Customer Services dial 150 From your EE mobile or 0800 956 6000 from any other phone.

EE standard opening hours are Monday to Friday, 8am to 9pm - Saturday and Sunday, 8am to 8pm.

bristolian · ‎22-03-2026

A pay-monthly line will remain live & usable for as long as you keep up contractual monthly payments, whether you use the phone or not is immaterial. The issue you would encounter is that when roaming, you're either paying per-minute/per-text, or you have flat-rate charges for inclusive use of your allowances - the latter is subject to the stable links policy mentioned above.

Migrating to PAYG and then travelling abroad after the conversion, is the most popular method.