Does O2 support international roaming?
Yes, O2 supports international roaming in most countries worldwide. When you travel abroad with your O2 SIM, your phone connects to a partner network in that country. Depending on your plan, data roaming may be included in your monthly allowance or charged at an additional rate per megabyte or day.
Always check your O2 plan details before travelling. Roaming charges vary significantly between destinations and plan types. The O2 APN hub has a full list of roaming destinations and rates.
How to enable roaming on O2
On Android: Go to Settings → Network & Internet → Mobile Network and enable Data Roaming. On Samsung, the path is Settings → Connections → Mobile Networks → Data Roaming.
iPhone: Settings → Mobile Data → Mobile Data Options, then switch Data Roaming on for O2.
Note: Enabling data roaming does not turn on internet automatically — your O2 plan must include roaming, or you may be charged pay-as-you-go roaming rates.
Roaming setup checklist
Enable data roaming before travelling, and check what O2's tariff actually includes
O2 roaming APN settings
| Setting | Value |
|---|---|
| APN Name | mobile.o2.co.uk |
| Username | vertigo |
| Password | password |
| MMSC | http://mmsc.mms.o2.co.uk:8002 |
| MMS Proxy | 82.132.254.1 |
| MMS Port | 8080 |
| Authentication Type | PAP |
| APN Type | default,supl,mms |
In most cases your phone uses the same APN settings for roaming as it does in the UK. If data does not work abroad, try manually selecting the local partner network: go to Settings → Mobile Network → Network Operators, choose Search manually, and select the local carrier. Then check that your APN settings still match the standard O2 configuration.
Roaming setup checklist
Turn data roaming on before you go, and confirm O2's tariff covers the destination
Troubleshooting O2 roaming problems
No data abroad: Confirm data roaming is enabled in your phone settings. Check your O2 plan includes the destination country. Try manually selecting a local partner network. Toggle aeroplane mode off and on.
Roaming charges unexpectedly high: Set a data roaming limit in your phone settings. Some apps use background data even when you are not actively browsing. Disable background app refresh when abroad.
Calls not connecting abroad: Make sure Voice Roaming is also enabled if separate from data roaming. Some countries require a specific dialling prefix — check the O2 roaming guide for your destination.
Troubleshooting checklist
Most O2 connections come back within the first two steps below
Best practice for roaming on O2
Download offline maps before you leave. Connect to hotel or café Wi-Fi for heavy data use. Use the O2 app to monitor your roaming usage. Consider purchasing a O2 travel bolt-on or daily data pass for your destination to avoid unexpected charges.