Learn how to set up and use international roaming to keep connected while abroad.

On this page:

Switch roaming on or off
Roaming options in Zone 1 or Zone 2
Get alerts about your roaming usage
Avoid unwanted costs when overseas
Contact us from overseas

Switch roaming on or off

You can manage international roaming from your plan’s Modify Features, which is found under View Details in My Account.

International roaming comes switched on automatically for SIM plans purchased after 12 December 2024.

Check your mobile device settings

To use roaming, you’ll need to activate data roaming in your mobile device’s settings before Southern Phone international roaming will work. If you don’t want to use roaming, switch off data roaming in your mobile device’s settings.

Find this in your mobile device’s Settings app, under Mobile or Connections categories.

Charges may apply when you switch off roaming on the app, so we recommend you switch off data on your mobile device’s settings and use WiFi instead.

Switch roaming on or off in My Account

1. Log in to My Account and go to View details of your mobile plan.

2. Click Manage and then Modify plan

3. Select Modify Features and then NEXT

4. Toggle International Roaming on or off.

5. Select NEXT and then SAVE

6. It may take up to 24 hours for International Roaming to be switched on.

Roaming options in Zone 1 and Zone 2

International roaming rates change depending on which country you’re in.

Countries in Zone 1: $5 daily travel pass
Countries in Zone 2: Pay as you go rates (PAYG)

See zone and pricing details

Get alerts about your roaming usage

Depending on which Zone you’re in, we’ll send you updates about your roaming usage. Our roaming alerts will always specify the country we detect your roaming usage and the date and time this occurred.

In most cases, you’ll get roaming alerts within 48 hours of usage. We send alerts about your usage via SMS by default. To switch between SMS or email alerts, contact us.

Roaming alerts in Zone 1 countries

When you’re overseas and use service or data, we’ll send you an alert explaining that roaming is active in Zone 1. You’ll also have the option to switch off roaming (data charges may apply).
We send alerts when you’ve used 50%, 85% and 100% of your data included in the $5 daily travel pass.
If you exceed your included data, we’ll automatically top you up with another $5 daily travel pass and send an alert to let you know.

Roaming alerts in Zone 2 countries

When you’re overseas and use service or data, we’ll send you an alert explaining that roaming is active in Zone 2. You’ll also have the option to switch off roaming (data charges may apply).
We send alerts at every $100 of usage with the total amount you’ve spent on international roaming.
When you get your bill, you’ll receive a log of all your calls, SMS/MMS and data usage with your charges. While your usage and charges will be accurate, please note your bill won’t include information on any phone numbers you send an SMS/MMS to. These will display as “888 000 000” in your bill.

If you spend more than $500 on international roaming in one billing cycle, we'll automatically suspend it to avoid further charges. If you need to change this, contact us.

How we detect your roaming usage

Using data, making phone calls or sending and receiving SMS messages while overseas are all considered roaming usage.

Your roaming usage is shared to our network provider, Optus, by foreign carriers in your destination country. Once Optus receives these records, they share this with Southern Phone so we can send you alerts.

Not receiving roaming alerts?

In extremely rare cases, roaming records may take up to 90 days to be delivered to Optus, and then our servers. In this instance, you won’t receive SMS alerts about your roaming usage.

Avoid unwanted costs when overseas

If you don’t want to use international roaming while abroad, here are our recommendations:

Before you travel, disable data or mobile roaming on your mobile device’s settings app.
Before you travel, switch off international roaming in your plan’s mobile settings from My Account.
While travelling, disable mobile data from your mobile device’s settings to avoid accidental charges.
While travelling, connect to WiFi where possible and use flight mode to avoid mobile costs.

Contact us from overseas

Call us on +61 3 9649 4918 (available between 8am - 9pm AEST, free of charge) or chat with us online.

International roaming explained

Related

Roaming alerts and troubleshooting

$5 Daily Travel Pass

How PAYG rates work

Countries in Zone 1 with $5 daily travel pass