How your business can avoid bill shock on international mobile usage
If you’ve ever come home from a business trip and stared in disbelief at your phone bill, you’re not alone. For U.S. travelers — whether employees of a business or road warriors for a company — roaming charges have become shockingly high. In fact, American users often pay far more for mobile data when abroad than travelers from other countries. In this article, we’ll explore why the U.S. has some of the highest roaming fees globally, what’s driving those costs, and what you (and your business) can do to avoid the pitfalls.
The Big Picture: U.S. Roaming & Data Costs
Americans pay exorbitant prices abroad
- According to recent research, U.S. mobile users may spend more than $2,000 per gigabyte while roaming internationally.
- One report found that U.S. enterprises were paying up to $693 per trip in roaming charges per traveler.
- Moreover, a major study showed U.S. wireless consumers pay among the highest data pricing in developed nations — with cost per gigabyte far above Europe.
While many countries have implemented roaming regulations (like the EU’s “Roam Like at Home”), the U.S. lacks similarly strong regulatory caps. For example:
In the EU, roaming surcharges within the European Economic Area (EEA) were abolished for many users under Regulation (EU) 2022/612.
By contrast, U.S. carriers charge daily passes, pay-per-megabyte fees, and steep mark-ups when users roam abroad.
Why are U.S. roaming fees so high?
There’s no single cause — it’s a combination of market structure, business practices, consumer habits, and regulation (or lack thereof). Here are some of the key drivers:
There’s no single cause — it’s a combination of market structure, business practices, consumer habits, and regulation (or lack thereof). Here are some of the key drivers:
1. Limited competition and market structure
- The U.S. wireless market is dominated by a small number of large carriers (e.g., Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile). With fewer players, competition on roaming tends to be weaker.
- When carriers negotiate roaming agreements with foreign carriers, their bargaining power is lower, and the wholesale cost they incur may be high — leading to higher retail charges for the consumer.
2. Inter-operator & wholesale roaming costs
- When you roam abroad, your home carrier must pay the foreign network operator for access and usage of infrastructure. These “wholesale roaming” charges are often passed through to you.
- Although the actual marginal cost of providing data may be low (some reports say just a few cents per megabyte), the retail mark-ups are often massive.
3. Heavy data usage habits + unlimited plans at home
- American users routinely consume large amounts of mobile data at home. When abroad, if they don’t adjust habits, their roaming usage skyrockets — triggering high fees.
- Carriers monetize this by offering “day passes” (e.g., $10–$16 per day for roaming) which may seem small but quickly add up.
4. Lack of regulatory caps on roaming
- Unlike many international markets (such as the EU) which enforce price caps or regulations to protect consumers, the U.S. has fewer constraints on carriers’ roaming pricing models.
- Because roaming fees remain profitable, many carriers continue charging premium rates.
5. Tiered, complex plan structures
- U.S. carriers often advertise “unlimited” domestic data, but once roaming begins, the costs and restrictions change. Hidden fees, pay-per-use data, and surprise charges make the bills tough to predict.
What this means for U.S. businesses
For any company with employees traveling internationally — especially multiple times per year — these fees can become a real cost center:
- Unexpected roaming charges can hit hundreds or thousands of dollars per trip.
- It’s harder to forecast telecom expense budgets when global roaming bills are unpredictable.
- Employee productivity suffers if connectivity is disabled to avoid charges, or if data usage is throttled.
- The business may face reputational risk if clients or partners experience poor connectivity while traveling.
How to avoid the roaming trap — smart strategies
Here’s how businesses (and traveling employees) can mitigate or avoid these high fees:
- Use eSIMs or international local SIMs: Digital/mobile plans aimed at travelers often offer far lower rates than carrier day passes.
- Review and restrict roaming plan usage: Make sure employees know to disable data roaming if not necessary; connect via WiFi when possible.
- Negotiate global data packages with your carrier: For frequent travelers, large carriers can provide bundled roaming/data plans at lower cost.
- Pre-download maps, content, and apps: Reduce usage of mobile data abroad by planning ahead.
- Audit telecom bills regularly: Monitor roaming charges and billing surfaces; prevent surprises.
- Work with an advisor: Partner with firms experienced in telecom expense management to audit your roaming policies and contracts.
How CPOA Global helps your business
At CPOA Global, we specialise in telecom solutions that keep businesses connected — without the unexpected roaming shocks. Whether you need:
- A reviewed global mobile plan for employees
- Cost-containment strategies for mobile data and roaming
- A partner who understands the fine print of roaming contracts
We’ve got you covered. Let us help you reduce telecom costs, maintain global connectivity, and ensure your team is ready wherever they travel. Reach out to learn more.
