What do Australians dread about overseas travel? Almost four in five Aussies (82%) have experienced or fear phone bill shock from unexpected roaming charges while travelling abroad. But there’s ways to avoid surprise roaming charges on the go.
International roaming is the most popular way Aussies stay connected abroad (48.1%), followed by local SIMs (38.7%) and travel eSIMs (32.3%), so phone bill shock from unexpected roaming charges is a real concern among travellers.
New Optus research shows international roaming activity rose 19 per cent year-on-year in June 2025 alone with a clear uplift in mobile data use as Aussies rely on their phones to stream, map and stay connected overseas.
The UK, Italy, France, Greece and Spain ranked among the top 12 for total roaming data consumed during the peak holiday season.
More than half (64.4%) of Australians surveyed said having access to mobile data while travelling is very important.
Staying connected without the stress of surprise costs was top of mind as mobile data allows people to get directions, stay in touch and share their real-time adventures via social media.
Issues with navigation and losing contact with travel companions were the top two most commonly mentioned frustrations of patchy connections when travelling abroad.
While eSIMs are growing in popularity with even airports getting in on the action, many travellers find the set-up confusing, worry about losing access to their number, or want something easier.
Around 9 in 10 Aussies said they’d prefer to use international roaming if their phone provider offered a more convenient and reliable solution.
Optus tips to avoid sky-high roaming charges while travelling abroad include using set mobile roaming options at a daily fixed cost and downloading key apps before departure to save your data.
To keep your mobile data and personal info safe while travelling overseas, avoid public Wi-Fi and opt for roaming instead for more secure and reliable connections.
