TOBY SHAPSHAK: Know your roaming data costs
The new eSIM card is a boon to consumers – especially travellers – and a possible threat to mobile networks
Roaming on cellular data overseas can be a painful — and costly — experience. Most people burnt by "bill shock" (it’s so bad it even has its own name) have found alternatives, such as using free Wi-Fi or buying local SIM cards. Both have their advantages and disadvantages. Free Wi-Fi is, well, free. But it is hardly secure and can easily be used to siphon off your passwords and other personal details. Buying a SIM is just technical enough to make it too complicated for most people — though travelling with a portable wireless hotspot (a MiFi) is the best alternative. You buy a SIM card, pop it into the MiFi, and tether your phone to it using Wi-Fi. You still have your home SIM card, but use your phone’s Wi-Fi for connectivity. I’ve been doing it for years. It isn’t cheap or easy, but it’s significantly cheaper than roaming. Earlier this year, I used another option — one bound to make waves when it becomes broadly available. Many companies offer a universal SIM card for travelling tha...
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