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How Will New Wireless Policy Changes

CANADIAN TRAVELLERS

will soon have more choices for mobile service while they’re travelling, thanks to changes in cell phone unlocking laws by the CRTC. Starting in December 2017, all newly purchased cell phones must be unlocked, and unlocking fees for current devices have been banned. These new regulations give travellers more freedom to choose services outside of their home carriers.

Prior to these policy changes, many travellers opted for plans provided by their home carriers out of convenience, but these plans are often far from the best option, mainly since roaming as a snowbird is hugely expensive.

A more attractive option may be a local SIM card. At first glance this may seem like an affordable and flexible option for those Canadians spending long stretches in the United States, but taking a closer look reveals some limitations.

To start, travellers need to find a local store at their destination and spend time and money setting up the SIM and service. There may even be extra fees related to activation and network access, plus possible overage charges. Many local SIMs also require customers to maintain a minimum balance to keep the card and the account active, meaning extra year-round payments. Plus, travellers will be billed in the local currency, so considering the exchange rate, the cost for a local SIM may be more than budgeted.

Another option that has grown popular is choosing a travel SIM card, like the USA Travel SIM from Roam Mobility. With services like Roam, travellers get the plan features they want including prepaid plans and a local phone number - at affordable local rates. Plus, they can keep their SIM and phone number for the next year, without any contracts or minimum balance required. Travellers are also able to activate their SIMs and schedule plans in Canada before they travel.

Roam Mobility also offers long-term plans for snowbirds and other travellers spending long periods of time south of the border. These customized plans include unlimited nationwide calling in the USA and back to Canada, unlimited global texting, unlimited data, and more - all for some of the lowest prices in North America. To learn more about Roam Mobility and see how they compare to other Canadian roaming options, visit roammobility.com.