When traveling, most travelers rely on mobile data roaming, but charges can be expensive. This comprehensive guide provides all the essential information you need to know about data roaming with your cell phone in Sri Lanka. Also this will give travelers some tips or perfect alternatives to avoid high roaming charges!
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Here is some useful information about phone roaming in Sri Lanka:
Roaming allows you to connect to a local Sri Lanka network instead of your home network, enabling you to browse, use apps, and stay connected.
Roaming in Sri Lanka has become significantly cheaper than before, with maximum rates ranging from $1 to $12 per gigabyte (GB) for pay-as-you-go users without an international plan.
However, the actual amount you’ll pay depends on the specific roaming rates and fees set by your cellular provider for Sri Lanka. These charges can be categorized into two types:
To activate roaming services, you just need to take 4 steps:
Step 1: Choose your preferred service provider
You need to determine the service provider first.
You can either keep your home mobile plan or go for a local cellular carrier
If you keep your home cellular plan and assume that your home network carrier is one of the following brands, here is what to expect:
| Mobile network carrier | Roaming fees |
| Three | 5 USD / day |
| Vodafone | 6 USD / day |
| Rogers | 15 USD / 10 MB |
| Verizon | 2.05 USD / MB |
| AT&T | 2.05 USD / MB |
| T-Mobile | 70 USD for 5 days |
If you choose a local mobile carrier, and activate its roaming service, the recommended local providers for roaming services are Dialog, Mobiletel, Hutch or Airtel.
| Sri Lanka mobile network carrier | Roaming fees |
| Dialog | 3GB / 30 days / $1.7 |
| Hutch | 2.7GB / 30 days / $1 |
| Mobiletel | $1-50 for Prepaid Roaming Plans $5-40 for Postpaid Roaming Plans |
| Airtel | $3/1GB/day |
Step 2: Activate the roaming function for your service provider
Each mobile network carrier has a different way to activate roaming service. You had better refer to the official website of the chosen operator for more detail.
For example: for Vodafone: download My Vodafone (Vodafone’s app) > get the option named “International roaming” > choose your destination country > Done, you get it.
Step 3: Buy a mobile package with roaming
Why is the roaming package important?
Regular roaming rates are usually expensive. Buying roaming packages will warrant that you will not break the bank with roaming charges.
Pro Tip:
Step 4: Turn on your phone’s roaming
On Android: Settings > Tap on “Data roaming” > Turn “International Roaming” on
On iOS (iPhone): Settings > Cellular > Tap on “Data roaming”
Note: Do not forget to turn off the roaming feature when not in use to prevent any unnecessary expenses once you come back Sri Lanka.
To summarize, there are three primary options to avoid excessive roaming fees in Sri Lanka:
Another alternative to completely avoid roaming charges in Sri Lanka is to use an eSIM data plan during your visit.
eSIM allows you to activate a mobile data plan digitally, eliminating the need for a physical SIM card. eSIM plans are directly connected to the embedded SIM in your phone.
Advantages of eSIM for Sri Lanka:
One provider offering eSIM data packages for Sri Lanka is GIGAGO. You can get fast LTE data starting from just $7.9 by purchasing a Sri Lanka eSIM package from GIGAGO. Obtain a Sri Lanka eSIM package from GIGAGO before your trip, and you’ll be ready to explore upon arrival!
For Sri Lanka, Gigago offers multiple data plan options, starting from 1 GB for 7 days with $7.90 . What is great about Gigago’s Sri Lanka eSIM is that its plans’ costs are diversifying, varying between $7.90 – $16.50 . Thus, it does not matter how Internet users you are and how long your trip is in Sri Lanka, there is always an option for you with Gigago.
If you rather not pay roaming charges and want to disable data connectivity during your trip, here’s how to turn off roaming in Sri Lanka on both Android and iPhones when in Sri Lanka:
On Android devices, go to Settings > Network & Internet > Mobile Network:
This will prevent your phone from connecting to local carriers via roaming when in Sri Lanka. Confirm by checking the network name displayed does not change when in Sri Lanka.
On iPhones, go to Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data Options:
Yes, you can activate the roaming plans overseas through official mobile operators’ websites or apps
Almost all roaming plans are not inclusive of government taxes.
Switch off and Switch on your mobile phone. You will be automatically connected to a foreign network.
Yes, you can activate multiple normal Data roaming plans. But maybe there will exception. For example, with Hutch, you can activate a maximum of 3 Combo roaming plans per day and a maximum of 2 Special Data roaming.
Data roaming in Sri Lanka is more expensive than other options like pocket wifi or SIM cards for Sri Lanka. To reduce costs, selectively enable data in airplane mode, use WiFi instead of cellular data, and limit streaming. For longer trips or heavy usage, affordable Sri Lanka eSIM plans avoid roaming fees. Understanding roaming charges and taking steps to minimize bills ensures a smoothly connected Sri Lanka trip without surprises
In this guide, we will explore where and how to purchase a SIM card for Sri Lanka at this airport, provide information on the best plans and current prices, and present the optimal option for a smooth and cost-effective trip.
We will provide information on different mobile networks, available data packages, pricing details, and where you can purchase these SIM cards.
Dialog is a leading network carrier in Sri Lanka, providing extensive coverage throughout the country along with competitive SIM card plans and high-speed 4G/5G networks.
Here is a comprehensive guide that outlines the process of purchasing Airtel SIM cards and eSIMs in Sri Lanka.
In this comprehensive guide, we will provide you with all the information you need to know how to use cell phone in Sri Lanka.
In this guide, we will provide you with all the essential information about renting pocket WiFi in Sri Lanka.
