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Using your mobile abroad

Roaming

When you buy your Tesco Mobile phone or SIM you're already set up to use your phone when abroad. This service is called 'International Roaming', or sometimes just 'Roaming'.

If you are a pay as you go/capped plan customer you will need to have credit on your phone. Please note that any bonus credit cannot be used while roaming so any charges while roaming will be taken from your main credit.

If you are a Pay monthly customer (Sim only/Handset plan) roaming charges are not covered in your plan allowance. While roaming your calls and texts will be charged outside your plan and be an extra charge on your bill.

Before you travel
  • If you’re a Pay as you go customer, Top-up your mobile in advance so you have plenty of credit. Also, register your credit/debit card with us so you can use text top up from abroad if you need to.
  • Don’t forget to pack your charger and an adaptor (for foreign plug sockets).
  • Make sure your voicemail is on to take any messages you miss.
  • Store any important numbers such as your travel company, travel insurance company or hotels in your mobile's phonebook.
To call back to Ireland

When calling home to Ireland from abroad, dial +353 before the number and drop the zero from the prefix. For example, 01 123 4567 becomes +353 1 123 4567.

To call the country you are in

Simply dial the full local number, as though you were using a local phone.

To call another country

This is the same as when calling back to Ireland. Just dial + and the full country code before the number and drop the zero from the prefix. For example, if calling a UK number 0123 456 7890, it becomes +44 123 456 7890.

Sending text messages

Send your text message in the same way as you would if you were calling back home. Insert the +353 before the number and drop the zero from the prefix. For example, 089 123 4567 becomes +353 89 123 4567.

Countries Your Phone Will Work In

You can now roam with Tesco Mobile in over 100 countries if you have a 3G Tesco Mobile SIM card, so keeping in touch with your family and friends back home is easy.

To ensure that your phone is set up for our full roaming service you need to have a 3G Tesco Mobile SIM card in your phone. To check if you already have a 3G Tesco Mobile SIM card, simply take the back off your phone and look at the SIM card in it. If you have a 3G SIM card, it will be blue on the front with a gold panel and 3G SIM written on it.

The reverse will be white with a Tesco Mobile logo and some numbers printed on it. If your SIM does not fit this description or does not have 3G SIM written on it please call customer care on 1749 from your Tesco Mobile or 089 420 0000 from any phone and we will send you a new FREE replacement 3G SIM card which will allow you to roam in over 100 countries.

The table below shows the countries you can roam in with your 3G Tesco Mobile SIM card.


Countries Your Tesco Mobile Phone Will Work In

Zone 1 - Europe & EC regulated countries
Austria, Bonaire, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, French Guiana, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Guadeloupe, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Martinique, Moldova, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Reunion (LA), Romania, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, St Barthelemy (French Antilles),St Maarten (Netherlands Antilles), St Martin (French Antilles), Sweden, UK.
Zone 2 - Rest of Europe
Albania, , Bosnia Herzegovina, Croatia, Guernsey, Isle of Man, Jersey Channel Islands, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, San Marino, Serbia, Switzerland, Turkey.
Zone 3 - Asia Middle East, CIS & Others
Afghanistan, Armenia, Aruba, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Cambodia, Georgia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mongolia, Oman (sultanate of), Pakistan, Palestine, Philippines, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Syria, Tajikistan South, Thailand, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen.
Zone 4 - Oceania
Australia, Fiji Islands, New Zealand,
Zone 5 - Africa
Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde Islands, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo (Republic of), Congo (Dem. Republic of), Egypt, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Gabon, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, , Morocco, , Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia.
Zone 6 - North America, Mexico, Caribbean
Anguilla, Antigua, Barbados, Barbuda, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Cayman Islands, Curacao (Netherlands Antilles) Dominica (Island of), Grenadines (The), Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, Mexico, Montserrat, St Lucia, St Kitts & Nevis, St Vincent, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks & Caicos, USA,
Zone 7 - Central & South America
Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Guyana, Panama, Suriname, Uruguay,
Zone 8 - inflight coverage, ferries and cruiseships, satellites
 
Roaming charges

The following are the charges you will pay for sending or receiving texts, or making and takings calls to landline and mobile numbers while abroad..

  Calling any landline or mobile Receiving Calls Sending Texts to any Mobile Receiving Texts
Zone 1 - Europe ** 35c 9c 11c FREE
Zone 2 - Rest of Europe *** €1.69 €1.59 39c FREE
Zone 3 - Asia, Middle East, CIS & Others *** €1.99 €1.89 39c FREE
Zone 4 - Oceania *** €1.99 €1.89 39c FREE
Zone 5 - Africa *** €2.29 €2.19 39c FREE
Zone 6 - North America (inclusive Mexico & Caribbean) *** €1.99 €1.89 39c FREE
Zone 7 - Central & South America *** €1.99 €1.89 39c FREE
Zone 8 - Inflight coverage, Ferries and cruiseship, Satelittes *** €12.00 €4.50 €3.00 FREE
  • * Zone 1, Calls originating “A minimum of 30 seconds will be charged, after which, per second billing will apply”
  • ** Zone 1, Calls terminating “Per second billing will apply”
  • *** Zone 2 – 8, calls originating and terminating are charged on a per minute basis
Services Available While Roaming

Your mobile phone is even more important while you're abroad for keeping in touch with family, friends, or work. Check out the services below that you can avail of while roaming.

Services Cost Detail
Data UK 30c per MB Price per kb
Data EU 86c per MB Price per kb
MMS message - (picture, sound & text) N/A Per Message
Voice Mail As per standard roaming call rate per minute Per Minute
Roaming in Belgium – How it works

To access a network in Belgium with the current version of SIM.

You need to

  1. Go into the menu on your phone
  2. Select Tesco Mobile
  3. Select When Abroad
  4. Select Network Selection
  5. Select Manual Selection
  6. Select NATIONAL TMI
  7. Select Proximus or Select Base ( this may be offered to select on screen)


Phone will say “refreshing SIM” and after some time it will register on either proximus or Base.