Using dual SIM - Brexit

[atlaurie]

I have a UK Vodafone contract SIM with a +44 number but spend a lot of time in Germany where I use my UK SIM on Roaming. I am concerned about what may happen after the Brexit transition period ends. Should I buy a new mobile with dual SIM capability, insert my current UK SIM into it (for continued roaming) AND also get a German SIM on contract with a +49 number and put that into the same phone? I don't want to lose the use of my current UK SIM just because Boris Johnson doesn't want or can't make a deal with the EU.  

[BandOfBrothers]

A dual sim phone certainly has it's uses @atlaurie 

If you buy from Vodafone then you'll need to have sim 1 and sim 2 unlocked to all networks.

For me I use two sims in my dual sim N20 Ultra 5G as Vodafone don't always provide data connection where I travel in the UK so I have a back up just incase.

[atlaurie]

Thanks @BandOfBrithers - I was actually thinking of the Note 20 dual SIM model myself. You only mention the UK in your reply though - do you use two UK SIMs from different networks i.e. one Vodafone SIM with a UK +44 number and one 'other' UK SIM from a different network also with a +44 number? I am hoping to use my current UK SIM (Vodafone) with a +44 number and another German Vodafone SIM with a +49 number. Do you know if there is any reason why that won't work - if I get a Samsung N20 Dual SIM model with both slots unlocked? Thanks for the advice about getting BOTH SIM slots unlocked by the way.

[BandOfBrothers]

No worries @atlaurie 

Yes I use a Vodafone Sim card in one slot and another UK Network's sim card in the other.

As long as the phone's sim slots are unlocked there's no reason to not be able to use Vodafone in one and another countries sim card in the other. Many people opt to use a countries own sim card while visiting that country as it can sometimes be cheaper and connection can be better as your not actually roaming.

The phone is smart enough to recognise which sim is in it.

[donnyguy]

It's good that you've put this on your 'to-do' list as things are about to change.

I can't actually ever knock Vodafone on roaming as they were ahead of the game introducing flat rate roaming in Europe followed by free roaming way before it became mandated (finally) in law in 2017.

But there was talk at time of 'what happens if someone buys a sim in country X and uses it permanently in country Y' so they put in place the fair usage policy meaning the network can monitor the roaming and if a customer uses the service in a free roaming .

So whilst it's never been enforced it seems, it's in the terms and conditions. So as we leave the European Union and things become a little more uncertain, it makes sense for Vodafone to start policing roaming as it still incurs a cost for them,

So from your perspective, it does make sense to get a German sim with a local number if you're likely to be spending a long enough period in Germany that would make you flag up on Vodafone's list as they will start charging for roaming usage. 

At least by using a dual sim phone, you can keep your UK sim active but route your local calls in Germany as well as all your data through your German sim. 

[hrym]

I believe the fair use policy is being enforced now so, if you spend a lot of time in another country, a second (local) SIM would make sense.   The good news, of course, is that an increasing number of devices are now dual-SIM (although the second slot doubles as the sd card carrier, so you can't have that and a second SIM - consider onboard storage as well when buying).

All the networks have said that they have no plans to reintroduce roaming charges after Brexit, but I'm sure they'll also be examining the costs and logistics of that.   It may be that they have sufficient reciprocal arrangements in place to continue in the longer term.

[atlaurie]

@hrym thankyou.

I didn't realise that the second SIM slot doubled as the additional memory storage OR second SIM thereby reducing the amount of possible memory storage.

I guess that means that if using two SIMs, you need to make sure the phone has enough 'built-in' memory.

Also, thanks for the information about Vodafone roaming policy; I did actually receive an email from Vodafone about their enforcement of fair usage policy today!

[garetc]

My Note 20 Ultra from Vodafone came unlocked and has 256GB onboard storage.

[hrym]

I'm seeing even mid-range devices coming with 128gb now.   32gb is the absolute minimum for an Android device now, but 64gb is almost standard once you get above basic models.