Key Takeaways
- International roaming is not available for AT&T, Verizon, or T-Mobile customers.
- The carrier blamed an unnamed third-party vendor for the issue.
- Alternatives for affected travelers include Wi-Fi hotspots, local SIM cards, and eSIMs.
According to The Verge, mobile phone users of the three major US carriers (AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile) are now unable to make simple calls using international roaming. As of June 27, the issue has reportedly been ongoing for over a day, with complaints spreading on social media. The carriers were initially slow to respond, but two of them are now blaming it on a third-party vendor.
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“The AT&T network is operating normally. Some customers traveling internationally may be experiencing service interruptions due to an issue outside of the AT&T network. We are working with one of our roaming connectivity providers to resolve the issue,” AT&T spokesperson Keoni Holoman told The Verge. T-Mobile vice president of corporate communications Tara Darrow said the company is “one of several providers affected by a third-party vendor issue that is intermittently impacting some international roaming services” and is working to resolve the issue.
The identity of the vendor has not been made public, and it is still unclear when the issue will be fully resolved. Meanwhile, for affected travelers, their only options to use their phones may be to use a Wi-Fi hotspot, a local SIM card, or download an eSIM if their phone supports it. Some carriers are offering short-term plans with travelers in mind.
How does international roaming work?
Major carriers often offer international roaming as a perk, allowing you to use your phone in other countries without incurring high charges for calls, texts, and data. The exact details vary by carrier, plan, and country, but the common denominator is that carriers partner with overseas networks. Once you arrive abroad, your phone will be picked up by the appropriate network, and you’ll only incur roaming charges from your domestic provider.
The vendor AT&T and T-Mobile are blaming could be one of the foreign carriers that operate in multiple countries, but another possibility is that it’s a middleman who handles infrastructure that’s usually hidden from the public eye.
