Does Three support international roaming?
Yes, Three supports international roaming in most countries worldwide. When you travel abroad with your Three 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 Three plan details before travelling. Roaming charges vary significantly between destinations and plan types. The Three APN hub has a full list of roaming destinations and rates.
How to enable roaming on Three
For Android, enable Data Roaming via Settings → Network & Internet → Mobile Network; on Samsung it's Settings → Connections → Mobile Networks → Data Roaming.
iPhone: Settings → Mobile Data → Mobile Data Options, then switch Data Roaming on.
Note: Enabling data roaming does not turn on internet automatically — your Three plan must include roaming, or you may be charged pay-as-you-go roaming rates.
Roaming setup checklist
Switch on data roaming before you leave, and check what your tariff actually charges for it first
Three roaming APN settings
| Setting | Value |
|---|---|
| APN Name | 3internet |
| Username | (leave blank) |
| Password | (leave blank) |
| MMSC | http://mms.um.three.co.uk:10021/mmsc |
| MMS Proxy | 193.113.200.195 |
| MMS Port | 8799 |
| Authentication Type | None |
| 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 Three configuration.
Roaming setup checklist
Enable data roaming before travelling and confirm Three's charges for your tariff
Troubleshooting Three roaming problems
No data abroad: Confirm data roaming is enabled in your phone settings. Check your Three plan includes the destination country. Try manually selecting a local partner network. Toggle aeroplane mode off and on.
Unexpectedly high roaming bills often trace to background app data — set a roaming limit and turn off background refresh while travelling.
Calls not connecting abroad: Make sure Voice Roaming is also enabled if separate from data roaming. Some countries require a specific dialling prefix — check Three roaming guide for your destination.
Troubleshooting checklist
Most Three users reconnect within the first two steps
Best practice for roaming on Three
Download offline maps before you leave. Connect to hotel or café Wi-Fi for heavy data use. Use the Three app to monitor your roaming usage. Consider purchasing a Three travel bolt-on or daily data pass for your destination to avoid unexpected charges.