Staying connected while traveling abroad is essential for sharing moments, navigating new cities, and keeping in touch with loved ones. With Globe, you can easily use your mobile data, call, and text services in over 100 countries. T
his guide will walk you through everything you need to know about Globe roaming, from activation to cost-saving tips, ensuring you have a worry-free international trip.
What Are Globe Roaming Services?
Globe roaming allows you to use your Globe SIM card—whether prepaid or postpaid—to connect to a partner network in another country. This means you can make and receive calls, send texts, and use mobile data just as you would at home. Instead of buying a local SIM in every country you visit, roaming offers a convenient way to stay connected using your existing number. Globe has partnerships with hundreds of telecommunication providers worldwide, offering broad and reliable coverage.
Prepaid vs. Postpaid Roaming: What’s the Difference?
Your roaming experience and options will vary slightly depending on whether you are a prepaid or postpaid customer. Understanding the key differences will help you choose the right setup for your travel needs.
Globe Prepaid Roaming
Prepaid roaming is a pay-as-you-go service. You need to have enough regular load or be subscribed to a specific roaming promo to use your phone abroad. This option gives you complete control over your spending, as you can only consume the amount you’ve loaded. It’s an excellent choice for budget-conscious travelers who want to avoid surprise bills. You can easily top up your load online even while you’re abroad.
Globe Postpaid Roaming
Postpaid roaming offers the convenience of continuous service without the need to reload constantly. Your roaming charges for calls, texts, and data are added to your monthly bill. Globe Postpaid plans often come with built-in roaming features or exclusive promos that provide great value. This is ideal for frequent travelers or those who prefer the simplicity of a single monthly statement for all their mobile expenses.
How to Activate Globe Roaming
Activating roaming is a straightforward process, but the steps differ for prepaid and postpaid users. It’s best to complete these steps before you leave the Philippines to ensure your service is ready upon arrival.
Activating Prepaid Roaming
For Globe Prepaid users, roaming is typically pre-activated. However, it’s wise to confirm and prepare your account.
- Ensure Sufficient Load: Before you travel, make sure you have at least ₱100 in regular load to keep your account active. This load is also necessary to subscribe to roaming promos.
- Turn On Your Phone: Once you arrive at your destination, simply turn on your mobile phone. It should automatically connect to one of Globe’s partner networks.
- Enable Data Roaming: Go to your phone’s settings, find the “Mobile Networks” or “Cellular” section, and turn on “Data Roaming.”
- Subscribe to a Promo: To avoid high pay-per-use rates, subscribe to a data roaming promo via the GlobeOne app.
Activating Postpaid Roaming
Postpaid customers need to request activation before traveling. This can be done easily through the GlobeOne app or by calling the hotline.
- Request Activation: Open the GlobeOne app, go to your plan details, and request to activate roaming. You can also call the Globe hotline at 211 (toll-free from your Globe mobile) at least 24 hours before your departure.
- Check Your Plan: Some premium postpaid plans may have roaming services activated by default. You can verify this in the GlobeOne app.
- Turn On Roaming: Upon arriving at your destination, turn on your phone. It will automatically detect and connect to a local partner network.
- Manage Your Usage: Enable “Data Roaming” in your phone’s settings. To manage costs, subscribe to a roaming promo or use the flat rate of Roam Surf 399, which is automatically enabled for many postpaid users.
Also Read:TM Unli Promos: Your Guide to Ultimate Savings
Globe Roaming Promos: Stay Connected for Less
Subscribing to a roaming promo is the most cost-effective way to use data abroad. It protects you from standard, more expensive pay-per-use rates. Globe offers a variety of promos to suit different needs and trip durations.
How to Subscribe
The easiest way to browse and subscribe to roaming promos is through the GlobeOne app.
- Download and log in to the GlobeOne app.
- Tap on the “Roaming” section.
- Select your destination country.
- Browse the available promos for data, calls, and texts.
- Choose the promo that fits your needs and tap “Subscribe.”
Popular Roaming Promos
- GoRoam: This promo offers large data allocations for specific destinations like Hong Kong, Thailand, and the USA. It’s perfect for travelers who need significant data for a few days.
- Roam Surf Longer Stay: For extended trips, these promos offer data valid for 5, 7, 15, or even 30 days. You get a set amount of data for a fixed price, making it easy to budget.
- Roam Surf 399 (Postpaid): This is a popular option for postpaid users. It provides all-day data roaming for a flat rate of ₱399 per 24 hours. The service automatically renews every 24 hours as long as your data roaming is on.
- Roam All Net: If you need to make calls and send texts, this promo offers a bundle of call minutes and texts to all networks, valid for a specific duration.
Note: Promo availability and rates may change. Always check the GlobeOne app for the most current offers for your destination.
Tips for Managing Your Roaming Costs
Roaming can be expensive if not managed properly. Follow these tips to keep your bills in check and enjoy a stress-free connection.
- Always Use a Promo: Never use data roaming on a pay-per-use basis. Subscribe to a data promo like Roam Surf or GoRoam before you start browsing.
- Use the GlobeOne App: Monitor your data usage and promo status through the app. This helps you know when your promo is about to expire so you can subscribe to a new one.
- Connect to Wi-Fi: Take advantage of free Wi-Fi in hotels, cafes, and public areas. Use Wi-Fi for heavy data activities like video streaming, app updates, and uploading photos.
- Turn Off Automatic Updates: Go to your phone’s settings and disable automatic app updates and background data refresh. These can consume your data allocation without you knowing.
- Download Maps Offline: Before your trip, use your home Wi-Fi to download offline maps of your destination on apps like Google Maps. This allows you to navigate without using mobile data.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Do I need a special SIM for Globe roaming?
No, you can use your existing Globe Prepaid or Postpaid SIM card. Just make sure roaming is active on your account.
2. How do I know which network to connect to abroad?
Your phone will automatically select one of Globe’s roaming partners. If you have trouble connecting, you can manually select a network in your phone’s settings. A list of partners is available on the Globe website.
3. What happens if my Roam Surf promo expires?
If you are a postpaid customer using Roam Surf 399, it will automatically renew after 24 hours if your data roaming is still on. For other fixed-duration promos, you will need to subscribe again via the GlobeOne app to avoid pay-per-use charges.
4. Can I receive calls and texts while roaming?
Yes. You can receive texts for free. However, receiving calls will incur a charge. The rates vary depending on the country you are in.
5. How can I contact Globe customer service from abroad?
You can use the GlobeOne app’s help section or call the roaming hotline at +63277301212. Please note that calls to this number will be charged based on roaming voice call rates.