Will my device work overseas?

Global coverage

Using your Australian mobile phone overseas used to be tricky. But nowadays, most countries use a standardised system for mobile networks.

This means no matter what phone you buy, or which Australian provider you choose, the phone will almost certainly work in most places around the world.

Fast data almost everywhere

All new Australian phones work on a fourth-generation mobile data network called 4G. It's very fast and is gradually being replaced by an even faster system called 5G.

Almost every country in the world offers at least a 4G network now. You need to go pretty far off the beaten track to have no mobile phone reception.

Mobile coverage in different countries

Here's a map that shows mobile phone network coverage around the world. Green is places where you will get the same data speeds as here in Australia.

The paler green countries only offer 3G speeds. Red is the very basic old data network called GSM.

Fast, new 5G networks are available only in some major cities, so are not represented on the map.

Your phone will choose the fastest network

While most countries now offer 4G, you might still encounter smaller regional or local areas where coverage is limited.

All new Australian mobile phones have the ability to use 4G, 3G and GSM data networks. Some new models can also use 5G. Your phone will pick up the signal and choose the fastest network wherever you are.

Enabling data when overseas

Your phone will connect to a mobile network overseas automatically, so you can make voice calls and use data. But, like at home, it needs to identify itself as having your mobile phone number, mobile phone account and data plan. It does this with a system called international roaming.

Roaming

Most mobile phone providers will set you up with international roaming, also called roaming , already switched on and ready to use whenever you want to travel. If roaming is not enabled, you can arrange with your provider to switch it on before you go overseas.

Well done!

This is the end of the Will my device work overseas? activity. You've learned that today's mobile phones automatically connect to mobile phone networks overseas. You'll be able to make calls and use data as normal, but it could cost a bit more.

Up next, you'll learn more about how you get charged while using your mobile phone outside Australia, in the Does data cost more overseas? activity.