How do you activate roaming on WOM?
To activate roaming on WOM, you need three things simultaneously: your plan must include international roaming service, you must enable the data roaming option in your phone's settings, and there must be coverage from WOM's partner in the country you are in. If one is missing, roaming will not connect even if the other two are correct.
The order matters. First, you confirm with the operator (the plan must have roaming enabled; not all include it by default); then you activate it on the phone side (the phone won't search for networks outside your country if the data roaming switch is off); and finally, it depends on actual coverage at your destination, which varies by country. If you skip the first step and only enable the phone's switch, you'll see the roaming icon but without data working.
What to check on your plan before traveling
Before you leave, and while still connected to Wi-Fi, there are three things you should confirm directly with WOM (via their app or customer service channel): whether your current plan includes international roaming or if it needs to be added as an add-on, whether the country you are visiting is among those with active coverage at that moment, and how much balance or data you have available before leaving. Roaming agreements between operators change, so the only reliable source is what you check on the same day, not what you remember from a previous trip.
If you have a prepaid line, also check that you have enough balance, because with several operators, roaming is deducted from there and not from a separate package. Note this down before boarding the plane: once at your destination, without Wi-Fi, confirming any data with the operator is slower and sometimes impossible if roaming hasn't activated.
Step-by-step: activating data roaming on your phone
Once the operator has confirmed that your plan has roaming enabled, the rest happens in your phone's settings. Menu names vary by operating system and version, but the logic is the same in all: there's a "data roaming" or "roaming" switch that is off by default and needs to be on while you're outside the country.
| What to check | Android | iPhone |
|---|---|---|
| Where the option is located | Settings → Network & internet → SIM/SIM cards → Data roaming | Settings → Cellular → Cellular Data Options → Data Roaming |
| Network selection | Settings → Mobile networks → Network operators → Automatic (recommended) or manual | Settings → Cellular → Cellular Data Network → Automatic Network Selection |
| Airplane mode | Turn it off completely upon arrival, not just enable Wi-Fi | Turn it off completely upon arrival, not just enable Wi-Fi |
| Preferred network type | Check that it's not forced to 5G only if coverage is low | Check "Voice & Data" in line settings |
With the data roaming switch on and airplane mode off, your phone should automatically search for a network upon landing. It may take one or two minutes to register with WOM's partner network in that country; this is not a sign that something went wrong.
How can I activate WOM national roaming?
National roaming is different from international roaming and addresses a different need: it allows your line to use another operator's network within your own country when WOM doesn't have its own coverage in that area, for example, in more remote towns. Unlike international roaming, it usually doesn't require you to manually activate anything: if your line is enabled for national roaming, your phone automatically switches networks as soon as it loses WOM signal and another operator's signal appears.
If you notice that in an area without WOM's own coverage, your phone also isn't picking up another operator's signal, what you need to check isn't a phone option but the line's status directly with WOM, because national roaming is enabled on the operator's side, not the user's.
You're abroad and haven't activated anything: what to do
If you arrived at your destination without checking anything beforehand, the first step is to find Wi-Fi (at the hotel, airport, or a cafe) to access the WOM app or their customer service channel without relying on mobile data. From there, you can confirm if your plan has roaming available in that country and, if necessary, contract or activate it on the spot.
If Wi-Fi isn't available, the alternative is to try the data roaming switch on your phone anyway: in some cases, roaming is already enabled in the plan, and the only thing missing was the phone setting. If after turning on the switch and waiting a few minutes you still have no signal, it's because the plan doesn't have active roaming for that country and needs to be managed with the operator, not with further phone adjustments.
In which countries is roaming free?
There isn't a fixed list of countries with free roaming that always applies: it depends on your contracted plan, the current agreements between WOM and local operators in each country, and whether those agreements have changed since your last trip. What was free or included on a previous trip may not be on the next, so the only reliable way to know is to confirm with the operator before each trip, not to assume based on prior experience.
If your phone doesn't pick up a signal as soon as you land, it's not necessarily a problem with your plan: it could be that the phone is still trying to connect to your home country's network instead of searching for an international network, which is especially common if airplane mode was quickly turned off and on during the flight.
This dependence on country-by-country agreements is precisely what leads many travelers to explore alternatives like an international eSIM, where coverage doesn't depend on your local operator's agreement with each country, but on a network designed for travelers from the outset.
Common errors that prevent roaming from working
Most cases of "I activated everything and it's not connecting" are repetitive. Before assuming it's a coverage issue, it's worth ruling out these:
| Error | Why it fails |
|---|---|
| Airplane mode incorrectly off | It remained active or reactivated itself after a system reboot |
| Plan without roaming enabled | The phone switch is on, but the operator never activated the service in the plan |
| Manual network selection | The phone remained fixed to a specific network that has no coverage in that area |
| Incorrect APN | The data access point does not correspond to what the roaming network uses |
| Phone locked to an operator | Some devices purchased with a plan only accept the original network and block data roaming |
| Balance or package depleted | The plan included roaming, but the data package for that country has already been used up |
Roaming not connecting: troubleshooting checklist
If you've already checked your plan with WOM and the phone's switch is on, but you still have no data, this order resolves most cases before you need to contact anyone:
- Turn off airplane mode completely (don't quickly activate and deactivate it) and wait at least one minute before trying again.
- Restart your phone. This forces a new network search from scratch, something a simple turn-off and turn-on of the roaming switch doesn't always achieve, and resolves a good portion of cases where the phone remained "stuck" to the home network.
- Check that network selection is set to automatic and not fixed to a specific operator.
- Confirm the correct APN for roaming, usually available in the operator's app.
- If none of this works, the problem is no longer with the phone: contact WOM to confirm if the line actually has roaming active for that country at that time.
Traditional roaming vs. international eSIM: what suits your trip
Roaming with your local operator and an international eSIM solve the same problem (having data outside your country) in different ways. Neither is better in all cases, but it's worth understanding the difference before deciding.
| Criterion | Roaming with WOM | International eSIM |
|---|---|---|
| Depends on | Agreements between WOM and local operators in each country, which can change | A network designed specifically for travelers, with coverage in over 200 destinations |
| Activation | Requires confirming the plan with the operator before leaving | Installed from the phone in approximately 1 minute after purchase |
| Your local number | Remains active for calls and messages | Does not replace your line; used as an additional data profile |
| If something goes wrong at destination | Depends on the local operator's support, which may not be easily accessible from abroad | 24/7 support in all languages via email and WhatsApp |
If your trip is short and to a country with a good relationship between WOM and the local operator, roaming might solve it without further hassle. If the destination is unclear, if you are traveling to several countries on the same route, or if you have already had a roaming problem that wasn't resolved in time, an international eSIM takes that variable out of the equation because it doesn't depend on what agreement your operator has with each country.
When to switch to an international eSIM for your next trip
If after reviewing all of the above, WOM's roaming still isn't working, or if you prefer not to depend on an agreement between operators that could change without notice, an eSIM is the most direct alternative: it's a digital profile installed on your phone without a physical card, purchased and activated before or during your trip, and does not depend on the relationship between your original operator and the destination country.
The process is short: you buy the eSIM for your destination, install it by scanning a QR code, and it's ready to use. You have 180 days from purchase to activate it, so you can buy it in advance without rushing. Before deciding, it's a good idea to check if your phone is eSIM compatible, as not all models allow it, and if you have questions about installation or coverage, there's a guide to common eSIM problems and their solutions. If, on the other hand, you're interested in a thorough comparison of eSIM vs. traditional physical SIM, that comparison is in eSIM vs. physical SIM.
You can see the available plans by country in the international eSIM collection.
Frequently asked questions
How do I activate international roaming on WOM?
First, confirm with WOM that your plan has roaming enabled for the destination country, and then activate the data roaming switch in your phone's settings. Both steps are necessary; one alone is not enough.
Do I need to activate roaming before leaving the country?
It's simpler to do it beforehand, with Wi-Fi and no rush. Once at your destination, without a connection, confirming the plan status with the operator takes more time and in some cases is not possible until you find Wi-Fi.
Why isn't my WOM roaming connecting even though I activated it on my phone?
The most common reason is that the plan doesn't actually have roaming enabled on the operator's side, even if the phone's switch is on. It could also be an incorrect APN, manual network selection, or airplane mode that wasn't fully turned off.
Are national and international roaming activated in the same way?
No. National roaming (using another operator's network within your own country) is usually activated automatically on the operator's side, without you having to touch anything on your phone. International roaming does require checking your plan and activating the data roaming option on your phone.
Can I use an international eSIM even if my WOM line is still active?
Yes. The eSIM is installed as an additional data profile; it does not replace your WOM line. You can keep your number for calls and messages and use the eSIM only for data during your trip.
Which phones are compatible with an international eSIM?
Most mid-range and high-end phones from recent years are compatible, but it varies by brand and model. Before buying, it's advisable to check the list of eSIM-compatible phones.
How long does it take to activate a PuraSIM international eSIM?
Installation and activation take approximately 1 minute once you scan the QR code, provided you have Wi-Fi available at that moment.
What happens if I buy the eSIM and don't use it immediately?
No problem: you have 180 days from the purchase date to activate it, so you can buy it in advance and activate it on the day your trip begins.
Final recommendation
If your trip is to a single country and you have time to confirm your plan with WOM before leaving, traditional roaming can solve it without further steps: check your plan, activate the data roaming switch on your phone, and verify coverage before boarding the plane. If you've already experienced a roaming problem that didn't connect, if your itinerary includes several countries, or if you prefer not to rely on an operator agreement that can change without notice, an international eSIM resolves that uncertainty from the start: coverage in over 200 destinations, activation in approximately 1 minute, 180 days to activate it from purchase, and 24/7 support in all languages via email and WhatsApp if something doesn't go as expected. You can check the available plans by country in the international eSIM collection.
