CHOOSING THE RIGHT SIM FOR YOUR TRAVEL NEEDS
Getting off the plane and stretching your legs after a flight is a great feeling, but as nice as it can be to relax, there are some things you need to do first. One of the most important of these is buying a travel SIM card, to avoid the costs and frustrations of roaming charges. This can be problematic, however, in that picking the right SIM for your needs requires careful consideration.
The costs of different SIMs can vary massively, and if you’re not into tech, many of the specifications can go over your head. With that in mind, let’s break down what you’ll need, what you can ignore, and what you should research first.
Know Your Usage
First, think about what you’ll use your mobile for.
As an example, consider if you will use your smartphone to play Scratchcards instant wins. These games like Cash Squares and Crack the Code barely use any data and don’t require much speed. This is as true on mobile as it is if you play on a computer, meaning that you won’t require one of the more expensive SIM options.
On the other hand, if you intend to do a lot of uploading to social media, or video streaming away from your hotel Wi-Fi, then your data demands will be higher. Consider how you intend to use your smartphone, and remember that it’s always a good idea to keep some data as a backup in case of an emergency.
Speed and Data Caps
Speed, or bandwidth, in mobile connectivity, is usually measured in Mbps. This number is clearly visible when you’re looking at travel SIMs as one of the two major features. While your home network might run at 700 Mbps, you’ll need nothing close to this speed when travelling.
Choose your Mbps by researching how much your general use costs in bandwidth against what’s on offer. By checking bandwidth requirements for video chats, you’ll see expected costs of around 4 Mbps on the higher end. Media streaming can be more expensive, costing around 10–15 Mbps for higher-quality mobile connections.
Data caps play the second part here, as once you hit this cap you’ll either be disconnected or have your speed reduced. Again, searching how much bandwidth you use per hour on Google can illustrate expected use patterns. Doing this with YouTube video streaming reveals an expected use of up to 4.1 gigabytes on a 1080p connection. If possible, unlimited data SIMs can be a superior choice, so you can avoid worrying about hitting a limit.
Research Available Coverage
Not all mobile service providers offer the same coverage, so it’s important to research the different options before you land. Some might work better in some regions than others, so choose the one that offers the most for where you’re going.
With this information in mind, you can confidently avoid the stress of getting a new SIM in a new country. Just remember that you’ll need to show your passport, and that the kiosks at the airport are generally more trustworthy than the ones you find by the side of the road. Research before you land, budget for the costs, and enjoy your travels!
