Best international roaming plans in Australia.
Back in the day, using your Australian phone abroad would mean high usage costs and limited connectivity, if it even worked at all. These days, international...
Belong international roaming. The rates, fees & how it works
If you love to travel, you’re probably aware that using your phone abroad may come with fees, but did you know that there are sim providers that specialise in affordable international roaming services? One such example is Belong, a Telcom provider available in Australia that offers contracts and add-ons for international coverage services.
In this article, we will break down what Belong is, how it works, and the various roaming packages it offers.
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Belong International roaming. What is it and how does it work
Belong offers international roaming sim packages designed to reduce the costs associated with using international mobile services. This includes calls, SMS, and internet data, with each service being offered at different capacities depending on the SIM package.
However, Belong’s core international roaming option is the AUD $30 travel pack add-on, which offers a full service allowance when travelling in 30 countries across Oceania, Asia, Europe, the Middle East and North America. Once activated, the roaming allowance lasts 15 days, and the add-on may be re-purchased at any time.²
International roaming packages are available with Belong
Belong offers a range of options designed for different budgets and allowance types, with most monthly plans offering calls and texts to 30 international destinations as an AUD $5 add-on. However, Belong's AUD $55 p/m SIM card plan comes with this add-on included.¹
Belong also offers a “travel pack” add-on which provides 3GB of mobile data, unlimited texts, and 150 minutes of calls for AUD $30, eligible for use within 30 international destinations for 15 days.²
Do you get internet data & coverage Internationally with Belong roaming
When you purchase a Belong travel pack, you will be able to access internet data and coverage internationally within 30 eligible destinations.² Whilst Belong’s standard SIM cards do offer basic coverage for receiving international calls and texts for an add-on fee of AUD $5, this does not include an allowance for mobile data or making texts and calls.¹
What is the cost to use Belong’s service abroad?
If you want to use the full range of Belong services abroad, it’s important to consider the charges that you will incur for doing so. This depends on which SIM card package you choose; see the following table for specific costs.¹
| 25GB contract at AUD $29 p/m | 40GB contract at AUD $35 p/m | 100GB contract at AUD $45 p/m | 160GB contract at AUD $55 p/m | Travel pack add-on, AUD $30 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Receive texts and make WiFi calls with AU numbers | Included | Included | Included | Included | Included |
| Send and receive international texts and calls from Australia | AUD $5 add-on | AUD $5 add-on | AUD $5 add-on | Included | Included |
| International calls and texts to/from 30 international destinations | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | 150 minutes of calls, unlimited texts |
| International internet data | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | 3GB |
As seen on 03/08/2023
Belong international roaming fees with upfront/prepaid packages
The AUD $30 upfront/prepaid Belong travel pack facilitates texts, mobile data, and receiving and making phone calls in included countries without incurring additional international roaming fees. This is subject to the allowance, which includes 3GB of mobile data, unlimited texts, and 150 minutes of calls in 30 countries.¹
The services of this add-on will expire after 15 days or once the allowance has been used. In order for fee-free roaming services to continue after this 15-day period, another $30 travel pack add-on needs to be purchased.²
Belong international roaming fees with subscription/contract packages
All Belong contracts facilitate fee-free WiFi calls to AU numbers in addition to receiving text messages from them.² However, to enable fee-free calls and texts to international numbers, an AUD $5 monthly add-on will have to be purchased. This is restricted to international calls and texts to 30 countries and does not include using internet data.
In order to use fee-free international roaming with a Belong subscription/contract SIM, an AUD $30 travel pack add-on will have to be purchased.
How do you activate roaming with Belong?
To activate international roaming through a Belong travel pack, a Belong SIM card plan will first be needed. Once this is set up, you may purchase an upfront/prepaid travel package costing AUD $30.²
To activate full international roaming with Belong, you’ll have to first purchase a travel pack add-on. This will activate automatically once you connect to an eligible network in an included destination, and you will have 15 days to use your allowance. It may also be necessary to turn on international roaming within your mobile phone settings before it kicks in.²
If you wish to make calls and texts to international locations without a travel pack add-on card, this will follow the same steps, but you will have to purchase an international calls and texts add-on for AUD $5. If you choose the Belong AUD $55 p/m monthly contract, you may immediately start making calls and texts internationally, without the need for an add-on. ¹
Destinations eligible for international roaming with Belong
Belong facilitates international roaming services in 30 different countries. To find out whether your destination is supported, refer to the following table:²
| Asia | Europe | Oceania | North America | Middle East |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
|
*Excludes Bihar, Uttar Pradesh East, West Bengal
As seen on 03/08/2023
How to track roaming usage with Belong
When using international roaming service with Belong, you will receive updates via SMS when you hit 50%, 85%, and 100% of your allowance at no additional cost. You can also track your roaming usage in real time by logging into your account on the Belong website or mobile app. ³
What to keep in mind before you travel.
If you purchase a travel pack add-on, this may take up to 10 minutes to activate. If services are still not active after 10 minutes, make sure your mobile phone roaming is turned on, that aeroplane mode is switched off, and that your destination is included in the aforementioned table. If service is still not available and you’ve tried all of the above, try restarting your phone.
Contacting Belong
You can give Belong’s helpline a call seven days a week, 8 am to 8 pm (AEST). To do so, call the following numbers:²
- Australia contact no: 1300 235 664
- Overseas contact no: +61 3 8903 9388
FAQs about international roaming with Belong
What is VoLTE International Roaming
Voice over LTE, also known as VoLTE, is the networking technology used by Belong to facilitate phone calls over 4G.4
Is it possible to make emergency calls with Belong while abroad?
In the event of an emergency while abroad, you will be able to make fee-free calls to the local emergency number if the country is included on Belong’s inclusion list.
What communication services can you use while abroad with Belong?
When you purchase a Belong travel pack add-on, you can use 3GB of internet data, make and receive 150 minutes of calls, and send and receive unlimited texts within a 15-day period.²
Travel wisely — Give the Wise Account and Debit Card a try
Now that you have a better understanding of Belong international roaming options, you may be also wondering how to minimise international card charges. The Wise Account is an international payment card and account that facilitates international spending at the mid-market rate.
With a Wise Account you can hold money in over 40 currencies and spend it in over 150 countries. Whenever you exchange currencies it’s done using the mid-market rate with a low conversion fee shown upfront.
To make everyday spending easier you can order a Wise Debit card for your Wise Account and generate virtual cards as needed. If you have the local currency in your Wise Account the Wise card will use it and charge no fees. If you don’t, it uses smart technology to auto-convert your money at the mid-market rate, for a low conversion fee.
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Sources:
- Belong: Mobile
- Belong: International Roaming
- Belong: How Do I Check My Data?
- Belong: How Do I Turn On VoLTE?
Sources checked on: 03 August 2023
This publication is provided for general information purposes only and is not intended to cover every aspect of the topics with which it deals. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content in this publication. The information in this publication does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice from Wise Payments Limited or its affiliates. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether express or implied, that the content in the publication is accurate, complete or up to date.
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