All About Roaming

What is roaming?

Once you leave Bermuda, you are no longer connected to the local One network. Whenever your SIM card connects to an overseas provider’s network, you are roaming. To learn more about your device settings for roaming, click here.

Carry-On Roaming

Manage your own roaming expense with our convenient and affordable roaming option. No need to add or remove plans and no more bill shock when you return!

Postpaid/billed customers already have this option attached to their plan. Ensure that Data Roaming and Cellular Data are set to ON so when you land, you are ready to go with an automatic pack of data.

To learn more about Carry-On Roaming, click https://onecomm.bm/mobile/carry-on-roaming/

What if I don’t want to use Carry On Roaming?

Ensure that you turn Data Roaming and Cellular Data OFF before you turn your phone on at your overseas destination. You can still use WiFi.

How will I know if I’m roaming on an overseas network?

At the top of your smartphone screen, you’ll see either a WiFi symbol or the overseas carrier name. You may see an “R” as well. Unless your phone is set to Airplane mode, your SIM will automatically connect to an overseas roaming partner network.

Can I use my phone to make calls or send text messages while overseas?

Absolutely! If you want to use your phone only to make a phone call or send a text message but don’t want to use data, you can as long as Data Roaming and Smart Network Switch/WiFi Assist are both turned off on your phone. If you are travelling to a country included in the World Traveller roaming plan, you’ll enjoy significant discount. Click here to view rates by country.

What do the Smart network Switch or WiFi Assist apps do?

When this setting is set to ON, your SIM card will automatically connect to a local network when the WiFi signal is weak or drops off even if you have set your mobile network to WiFi.

• Phone Settings Instructions
  • Turn Data Roaming Off
  • iPhone: Settings->Cellular->Cellular Data Options->Data Roaming-Set to OFF
  • Android: Settings->Connections or Mobile networks->Data Roaming->Set to OFF
• Turn WiFi Assist Off
  • iPhone: Settings->Cellular->Scroll past apps to WiFi Assist-Set to OFF
  • Android: Settings->Connections->Tap WiFi->Advanced->Switch to mobile data-Set to OFF

What happens if I turn my data on while roaming?

Data is not measured in minutes or hours. If you enable data while roaming, all notifications, alerts, emails, social media, etc. update in real time.

Even though you just want to read an email, your phone is not a traffic officer, capable of holding one lane of traffic while the other flows through. All data will flow through.

You can use data/internet on WiFi. Be sure to turn WiFi Assist or Smart Network Switch OFF so that you don’t connect to the overseas carrier network when the WiFi signal is weak or drops.

When this setting is turned ON, your phone will automatically connect to an overseas network when the WiFi signal becomes weak or drops.
Turn the setting OFF if you don’t wish to connect to the overseas network when your WiFi signal is weak or drops.

• iPhone: Settings->Cellular->WiFi Assist
• Android: Settings->Connections->WiFi->Advanced->Switch to mobile data

Mobile Phone Settings for Roaming

WiFi Assist (iPhone) or Smart Network Assist (Android)

When this setting is turned ON, your phone will automatically connect to an overseas network when the WiFi signal becomes weak or drops.

Turn the setting OFF if you don’t wish to connect to the overseas network when your WiFi signal is weak or drops.

Android

1. Tap Settings and choose Connections
2. Choose WiFi-then Advanced->Switch to mobile data.

iPhone

1. Tap Settings and choose Cellular
2. Choose WiFi Assist

Data Roaming

If you turn your Data Roaming setting OFF you will not be able to use data on an overseas network. If you have WiFi turned ON you’ll be able to use data on WiFi.

Data Usage

You will be able to see your overseas data usage on your Data Usage setting.

• Airplane or Flight Mode
  • Android: Settings->Airplane or Flight Mode->Turn ON or OFF
  • iPhone: Settings->Airplane Mode->Turn ON or OFF
  • Perfect if you don’t want to make or receive calls, send text messages or use data/internet. Airplane mode stops the SIM card from connecting to any network. Android and iPhone: When Airplane/Flight Mode is turned ON, your current WiFi connection will be disconnected and you will not be able to use Bluetooth or GPS. You can tap WiFi again to reconnect to a WiFi network.
  • You can still view any items that have already downloaded to your phone such as emails and social media posts. This mode is perfect if you just want to use your phone as a camera.
  • How can I tell if my phone is in airplane or Flight Mode?
    • You will see an airplane symbol at the top of your phone.
      E.g. Android
      
• How can I tell if I’m on the overseas network or WiFi?
  • Overseas Network: You’ll see the overseas carrier at the top of your screen like AT&T.
  • WiFi Network: You’ll see the WiFi symbol at the top of your screen

How you plan to use your phone while you are travelling will determine which phone settings to use.

I want to be able to make and receive phone calls while I’m away.

You will need to connect to an on overseas network to make and receive calls. To receive calls from Bermuda, you will need a mobile long distance plan with a Bermuda provider. Don’t have a mobile long distance provider? Call us at 700-7000 to learn about our plans. We can add the plan for you right away!

• Set Airplane or Flight Mode to OFF so you can connect to an overseas network
  • Note: Once you connect to an overseas network, data communication (updates, messages, emails) will flow through. If you don’t want to use data, set Data Roaming to OFF and ensure WiFi Assist/Smart Network Assist is turned OFF.

I want to be able to send text messages while I’m travelling.

Yes as long as you are connected to an overseas network.

• This means turning Airplane/Flight Mode OFF.
  • Note: Once you connect to an overseas network, data communication (updates, messages, emails) will flow through.
  • If you don’t want to use data: Set Data Roaming to OFF and ensure WiFi Assist/Smart Network Assist is turned OFF.

I want to post my travel pictures to social media and/or send emails while I’m travelling.

• I plan to use data/internet on WiFi only
• Turn Data Roaming OFF, Turn WiFi Assist/Smart Network Assist OFF.

I want to have access to data/internet at all times, even when WiFi is not available.

• Turn Airplane/Flight Mode OFF
• Turn Data Roaming ON,
• Turn WiFi Assist/Smart Network Assist ON