International Roaming
Travel abroad using your Bell phone or smartphone. Bell has agreements with trusted partners in over 200 countries for voice and 170 countries for data, letting you use most of the mobile services you enjoy in Canada while you're overseas with your Bell phone.
Coverage and Rates
Bell offers a variety of mobile phones and smartphones that can be used for roaming outside of Canada. Before travelling, we suggest you check to see which destinations are available for your particular device and the roaming rates for your desired destination.
If you have an HSPA device, see which networks and services are available and the roaming rate.
If you have an EVDO/1XRTT phone or smartphone, The countries in which your device has coverage will appear in the link below.
If you have an HSPA device, see which networks and services are available and the roaming rate.
If you have an EVDO/1XRTT phone or smartphone, The countries in which your device has coverage will appear in the link below.
Voice and data coverage and rates
All HSPA phones and select EVDO phones allow you to roam on many HSPA+/GSM networks globally, so you're covered in more places.
While roaming in CDMA and GSM countries, data usage is not deducted from your data plan or feature. You will be charged a roaming rate of 5˘/KB ($51.20/MB) in 10 KB increments.
When you send a text message while roaming outside Canada, you'll be charged $0.60 for each message sent*. Sent messages are pay-per-use and are not included in the Text Messaging bundles. Received text messages are charged the same as if you were in Canada.
Data usage while roaming internationally is charged at the rate of $0.05/KB ($51.20/MB) in 10KB increments and is not deducted from your data plan, which applies to data usage in Canada only.
Data usage while roaming internationally is charged at the rate of $0.05/KB ($51.20/MB) in 10KB increments and is not deducted from your data plan, which applies to data usage in Canada only.
Tip: Data roaming charges can add up quite quickly. We recommend you do not use data-intensive applications such as surfing the Web, video streaming or downloading large email attachments while outside of Canada.
If you travel internationally frequently, find out how you can save by subscribing to a Bell Travel bundle.
Roaming in Mexico
If you're travelling to Mexico with an EVDO phone, please call Client Care at least 48 hours prior to your departure.
Coverage in Japan
You'll be able to enjoy wireless voice and data roaming in Japan and South Korea with your dual-mode EVDO/GSM BlackBerry phone and other select phones. Call Client Care to find out if your phone is compatible.
Text messaging coverage and rates
You can send and receive text messages while roaming on all Bell's HSPA+/GSM roaming partners with your HSPA phone or select EVDO roaming partners with your EVDO/GSM capable BlackBerry® phone.
When you send a message while roaming internationally, you'll be charged 60˘ for each message sent*. Sent messages are pay-per-use and are not included in Text Messaging bundles. Received text messages are charged the same as if you were in Canada.
When you send a message while roaming internationally, you'll be charged 60˘ for each message sent*. Sent messages are pay-per-use and are not included in Text Messaging bundles. Received text messages are charged the same as if you were in Canada.
Using your services abroad
Making a call
Before you travel abroad with your CDMA phone, please contact Client Care at 1 800 667-0123, or visit a Bell store.
To make a local call or to call within a country, follow the dialling pattern of that country.
When making an international call while roaming on a HSPA+/GSM network, the international dialling code is not required. Simply begin your number with the "+" symbol. To get the "+" symbol on your mobile phone, hold the 0 key for a few seconds until "+" appears on the display. For some phones, you must press the ' key twice quickly to display the "+" symbol. It is recommended that you store all your contacts using the + code format so that you are able to make calls easily when travelling.
For example, if you were calling a friend in the United Kingdom you would use (and save the contact) in the following format:
+ with the country code, area code and phone number.
Ex. + 44 181 777 7777
While roaming on a CDMA network, please see the chart below for the international dialling code needed to place an international call from different regions.
| Region where you are when placing the call | International dialling code |
| US, Bermuda, Guam and Caribbean | 011 |
| Hong Kong, South Korea, Thailand | 001 |
| Taiwan | 005 |
| Other countries | 00 |
Voicemail retrieval
With your EVDO/1XRTT phone you can retrieve voicemail messages while abroad by calling your own phone number as if you were placing a call to Canada. Once you hear your greeting, press #, then enter your voicemail password.
If you have a Bell HSPA/UMTS phone you can simply hold and press the 1 key to retrieve your voicemail messages. You may be asked to enter your 10-digit mobile number first before entering your voicemail password. Note: roaming charges may apply.
Sending and receiving text messages
While abroad, send a text message the same way you would at home.
EVDO/1XRTT phones
To send a text message from abroad to a Calgary phone number, dial 403 XXX XXXX. To send a text message from France to a German mobile number, dial 011 49 XX XXX XXXX.
HSPA/UMTS phones
To send a text message from abroad to a Montreal phone number, dial +1 514 XXX XXXX. To send a text message from Germany to a France phone number dial +33 XX XXX XXXX.
To send a text message from abroad to a Calgary phone number, dial 403 XXX XXXX. To send a text message from France to a German mobile number, dial 011 49 XX XXX XXXX.
HSPA/UMTS phones
To send a text message from abroad to a Montreal phone number, dial +1 514 XXX XXXX. To send a text message from Germany to a France phone number dial +33 XX XXX XXXX.
Using email and Internet
When abroad on an HSPA or GSM network, your device will automatically connect to a network. In the event that this does not occur and data is available in that country, you will need to manually switch the device to another network. Refer to the user manual for instructions. Please confirm data availability and network partner for the country or countries you are visiting in the "coverage and rates" section.
Emergency Service:
To reach Emergency service while you are roaming on a HSPA or GSM network, dial 1-1-2
TIP: Don't forget to bring your charger and electrical adapter with you when you travel.
Bell makes travelling easy with access to Canada's best network1. And, with a broad selection of the world's best phones, enjoy coverage in over 200 countries worldwide.
1 Based on: (a) fastest network, according to tests of average upload and download speeds using HSPA devices, in large Canadian urban centres, (b) largest network, based on total square kms of coverage, and (c) most reliable network based on tests for dropped calls and call clarity in large Canadian urban centres using HSPA devices; all on the shared HSPA/HSPA+ network available from Bell, vs. Rogers HSPA/HSPA+ network in September 2009. Speed may vary due to topography, environmental conditions, device type and other factors. Subject to change without notice. Available with compatible devices. Actual coverage is approximate and speed may vary due to topography, environmental conditions, device type and other factors. HSPA+ not available in all areas.
