For most people moving abroad, keeping in contact with home is a priority. This usually means getting a local mobile number straight away, which can be done by simply walking into the nearest corner shop and picking up a SIM card.
There are, however, two problems with this. Firstly, if you don’t have much credit, the connection may cut out during a conversation - always a risk when making a long distance call. Secondly, there will always be somebody telling you that you didn’t get the best deal.
If you’re moving to Belgium, it’s important to know what you want to use your phone for. It’s likely you’ll use it to stay connected with your new friends and colleagues in Belgium, and to catch up with your loved ones at home. This means you will probably be making both national and international calls. You may also need to call your friends in Belgium whilst visiting your home country - something known as roaming. With this in mind, it’s likely that you want and need a phone contract that can provide all these types of communication, preferably in an all-inclusive package.
You may have heard in the news that the EU have pushed down roaming prices. However, international communication is still completely unregulated and so calling home can still cost a huge amount. Even with the cheapest operators, two 30 minute calls back home can currently cost up to €39! This doesn’t even take into consideration your other daily calls.
So, what are the sensible options for new expats in Belgium? Thankfully, there are some operators that offer competitive deals on packages with international minutes. The more you pay, the more you get. Make sure you check whether roaming charges are included though!
Other operators, such as Transatel Mobile, tailor packages specifically to expats, with plans that include roaming and international communication, across Europe at no extra cost. A real 100% European package!
Whatever you do after you arrive in Belgium, make sure you shop around for the best mobile deal for you. A little time spent doing this can save you a lot of money in the long-term, especially if you’re planning to travel outside the country and like to call home.
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This article was submitted by Transatel Mobile - Find out about the first 100% European package