This topic

Roaming and maritime networks

Ollie2222 — Fri, 28 Feb 2025 15:33:01 GMT

I have a BT Mobile Sim only with EU roaming included.

I'll be travelling to Norway soon by boat and will be near the coast quite a bit where I should be able to connect to the land based Norwegian networks so my understanding is this is fine and included.

If I go out of range of the land based networks then there is also Tampnet which covers the north sea and is recognised as a maritime network with huge roaming costs.

Other than manually setting the network to the local Norwegian network to prevent this is there any way I can avoid it connecting to the maritime networks?

On EE it is possible to text ROAMEU to 150 and it limits roaming to include EU locations only stopping any potential eye watering bills if the phone connects to the wrong network but I've tried this and it appears it doesn't work on BT mobile, is there anything else I'm missing?

Re: Roaming and maritime networks

Katie_B — Sat, 01 Mar 2025 13:12:56 GMT

Hello @Ollie2222.

Thanks so much for coming here.

If you do not wish to connect to a Maritime network you can switch your phone to aeroplane mode whilst travelling.

Information on Roaming with BT Mobile can be found by visiting this help page.

Katie

Re: Roaming and maritime networks

Ollie2222 — Sun, 06 Apr 2025 16:04:58 GMT

Thanks for the reply however I was trying to avoid switching to flight mode as I want connectivity and most of the time I should be able to get it however we will be in and out of coverage.

If limiting it to EU only roaming then I'll set he mobile network manual to stop the phone from roaming.

Thanks again.

Re: Roaming and maritime networks

chrisjp — Sun, 06 Apr 2025 22:09:27 GMT

You can also, at least on Android phones, set it to not use data when roaming. Then you only incur charges when making phone calls and when sending/receiving texts

Re: Roaming and maritime networks

JKM — Mon, 11 May 2026 05:50:33 GMT

My partner and I have both been ‘done’ by this. How were we supposed to know that we should switch off before going on a ship as, otherwise, we could be liable for an unintended large bill. I got on the ship, left my phone in the cabin and we went for dinner and then explored the ship. We returned to the cabin to find a message from BT ‘warning’ about possible data charges for using
a maritime network and, too late, I had already been charged £20 without having actually used my phone.

When I suggested that the system should be set for a pro-active opting in to use a maritime network, I got some sort of explanation from BT that they cannot prevent phones automatically connecting and they did ‘warn’ me. NONSENSE! I realised later that they COULD do that, because they had stopped my data when it had reached my overspend limit which, fortunately, was relatively low!!!! How much money do BT make out of this with, I am sure, thousands of people getting caught out by this? COME OFF IT BT, YOU CAN DO BETTER AND BE MORE ETHICAL.

Re: Roaming and maritime networks

gg30340 — Mon, 11 May 2026 07:16:57 GMT

Did the shipping company that you were using warn you about the posible charges if you use the maritime networks and to turn your phone off if you did not wish to use it as your phone may connect to it?

Did your phone not receive a message informing you that you are now connected to a different network and what the name of the network is?

Re: Roaming and maritime networks

Kimberlin — Mon, 11 May 2026 08:09:50 GMT

@JKM You probably won't take this the way it's intended, but I'm afraid this is totally on you. You should have done your research before you embarked on the cruise. As a frequent global traveller, I spend a lot of time researching before I embark on a trip anywhere and phone use abroad is perhaps the biggie for me. Anyway, see following link. A bit after the horse has bolted in your case, but you'll know for next time. What happened to you really isn't BT's fault:

https://www.aboutluxurycruising.com/roaming-charges-on-a-cruise/

Re: Roaming and maritime networks

JKM — Mon, 11 May 2026 08:32:30 GMT

So elderly folk, aged 81, need to be as clever and tech wise as you are? You have missed my point. Look at Ollie’s post. What a length he has to go to to try to use his phone, but avoid accidental charges. If EE can do it, then surely BT can do it!

Re: Roaming and maritime networks

Kimberlin — Mon, 11 May 2026 08:42:53 GMT

An 80 year old having a go at a 60 year old, who'd have thunk it 🙄 One wonders at what point in life one suddenly becomes 'elderly'.

If you have an axe to grind, you need to complain to BT. This is a customer to customer help forum. Write a letter to BT and complain if you're not happy, or follow the advice the Moderator posted earlier.

Re: Roaming and maritime networks

JKM — Mon, 11 May 2026 10:31:43 GMT

You will find out on the exponential curve that we are all on.

I was actually trying to be helpful to others, by pointing out that BT have the ability to change it to an ‘opt in’ system (or to do what Ollie was saying that EE can do). I thought that the moderator might read my post and give it consideration.

Unfortunately, some of us are not perfect and can make mistakes. Good luck in your older age.

Re: Roaming and maritime networks

Kimberlin — Mon, 11 May 2026 10:45:26 GMT

With respect, you could swap your mobile to EE who are BT anyway, and just be done with it. You've then literally solved your problem. Unless of course you are so wedded to the BT branding you won't? BT is EE, EE is BT, that's why so many customers are apparently being 'guided' to join EE. There's a business interest in there some where. Some of us don't give a stuff for branding, it's all snake oil, they're all as good or bad as each other.