{"id":8762,"date":"2021-02-05T17:44:01","date_gmt":"2021-02-05T12:14:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/test-blog.unicreds.com\/blog\/?p=8762"},"modified":"2025-11-13T12:51:20","modified_gmt":"2025-11-13T07:21:20","slug":"all-you-need-to-know-about-international-sim-cards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/unicreds.com\/blog\/all-you-need-to-know-about-international-sim-cards\/","title":{"rendered":"International Sim Cards: The Complete Beginners Checklist"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\u201cDon\u2019t worry, I\u2019ll only be a call away\u201d. Did you use this line on your parents, while they were sobbing at the airport, trying to see you off? Yeah, we thought so. Technology has come a long way since rotary dial telephones were the only way to talk to people across vast distances. Today, with just a tap on our mobile phone screen, we\u2019re able to communicate with a person located anywhere in the world. As an international student, you will greatly rely on technology to stay connected with your friends and family who are probably living thousands of miles away from you. For this, you will need international sim cards. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Is An International Sim Card?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before we get into international sim cards, let\u2019s understand what a \u2018Sim Card\u2019 is. A SIM stands for Subscriber Identity Module, and stores basic information like the name and number of the user of the phone. It is a small plastic card that goes inside your phone and uses the Global System of Mobile Communications, or GSM, for short. A sim card allows you to make calls, send messages and access the internet. In the same vein, an international sim card has the same functionality as a normal sim card but can be used worldwide. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

An international sim card allows you to switch between domestic and foreign numbers, so that you and the people communicating with you, don\u2019t have to spend extra to call or text you. In today\u2019s time, most incoming calls and text messages are free. But this doesn\u2019t mean that you should walk up to a shop and choose the first international sim card you find. You need to closely identify your needs and peruse carriers of the various schemes offered by sim card companies, to get perfect international sim cards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why Buy International Sim Cards?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We understand that international sim cards aren\u2019t usually the first thing you think about when travelling. You might be tempted to use your local sim card and forgo the pain of running around to get an international sim card. We get it. But having international sim cards come with a host of benefits. Service providers like Vodafone and Airtel offer students various cost-effective plans that suit their requirements. This allows students to avoid paying exorbitant amounts on incoming and outgoing calls, and texts. Moreover, these service providers have great value packs on data usage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All You Need To Know About International Sim Cards<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s also the factor of convenience, International sim cards can readily be bought from an airport kiosk, the minute you arrive in a new country. So if you were wondering, \u201cWhere to buy the best international sim card from?\u201d, we hope you\u2019ve got your answer. It takes just a couple of minutes to set up but soon you will be hooked up with data, calls and texts before you even step outside to catch a taxi. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most international sim cards allow students to access data, calls and texts in over 100 different countries around the world. The rule of thumb with sim cards is that \u2013 international sim cards are nearly always cheaper than roaming with your home carrier but are normally more expensive than using local SIM cards. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Who Should Buy International Sim Cards?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

International sim cards best suit students headed abroad for their higher education. Anyone embarking on a long-term trip should pick up an international sim card. This is because there\u2019s always a lag between reaching a new country and picking up a new local SIM, and it\u2019s always a good idea to have a working phone straight away to call an Uber or tell your student accommodation that you are running late.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

International sim cards are also a great option for business travellers who dip in and out of countries several times a year. These international sim cards are much cheaper than roaming with your usual cell company, and more convenient than local sim cards. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Travellers who are skipping through several countries in a hurry or make a few short trips a year are also recommended to get international sim cards, as they work out cheaper than local sims and offer more convenience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Does An International Sim Card Work?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

An international sim card is very different from a local sim card. Local sim cards are programmed to operate on only one network, which exists in a specific geographical location. On the other hand, international sim cards are programmed to work on multiple networks in different geographical locations around the world. For instance, many mobile phones in the U.S. and Canada are locked to use the local infrastructure as set by the respective mobile network provider.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

International sim cards allow users to connect to different networks in the world without being charged outrageously for making or receiving calls. This is possible because carriers make bilateral agreements with other carriers ahead of time to allow each other\u2019s customers to use telecommunications networks across the globe. Many SIM cards built for travel, use call-back technology that transforms outbound calls into inbound ones for phone calls. Carriers have set in motion this system to automatically reduce the expenses paid by consumers who have acquired a roaming card. This ensures that operators do not have to employ staff to physically intercept calls and reduce their customers\u2019 bills by hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Which are The Best International Sim Cards?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sim card carriers have different plans and packages for their customers. Rates and limitations vary widely, so make sure to study the details carefully to make sure you\u2019re getting an international sim card that best suits your specific needs. Here are some of our favourite international sim cards \u2013 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

OneSim<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

OneSim is an international mobile service provider, which is an offering of US carrier Belmont Telecom. OneSim has three popular packages \u2013 <\/p>\n\n\n\n