Unable to connect to local network while roaming

[Jacksparrow88]

Why am I not able to connect to any local network in India when My data roaming is on and I have turned off all restrictions? 
while checking in coverage map it does show services available in India but when I login into my application it shows ineligible country for the plan but at least I should be able to use Pay per Use as it shows ineligible for roam better.

[WelshTerrier · Accepted solution]

Good Day & Welcome to the Bell Community Forum.

Are you on a Monthly of a Prepaid Bell Mobility plan? Roaming is not available on phones that are on a Prepaid phone plan. If you are on a monthly plan have you activated Roaming?

When traveling, there's a few things to check in order to ensure your phone is ready. Here are a few examples:

• Ensure that no roaming restrictions are present on your account.
• Ensure to toggle to: ON your roaming capabilities in the phone settings.
• You may need to manually search for a local network via your network settings.

When you turn on your device, it should automatically connect to the strongest available network. Please check out the following suggestions:

• Restart your device: Turn off your device, wait five minutes, turn it back on, and wait another five minutes. This can often resolve temporary connectivity problems.
• Toggle airplane mode: Turn airplane mode on and off. This can force your device to reconnect to the network.
• Disable data saving features: Disable “Low Data Mode” on iOS devices or “Data Saver” on Android devices. While these features are helpful for conserving data, they can sometimes interfere with connectivity.
• Check the network selection setting: To ensure the best possible network connection, especially when travelling to a new destination, set your device’s network selection setting to “Automatic.” This allows your device to automatically connect to the strongest available network and avoids connection issues. If you want to change the network you’re using, use manual network selection. For instructions on how to change the network, consult the user guide for your device or the tutorials in the Bell mobile device support section – just select your device from the drop-down menu.

Roaming information:

When travelling outside of Canada, you’ll receive a welcome message from Bell with the standard roaming rates for your destination. You’ll also receive a warning message if your data roaming usage reaches a certain volume.

Roam Better FAQ | Bell Mobility | Bell Canada

You can contact Bell while travelling abroad using the following numbers:

• Chat with us
• From a Bell mobile phone: +1 514 420-7748

Note: the "+" represents the international dialling code. To get the "+" symbol on your mobile phone, hold the 0 key for a few seconds until "+" appears on the screen.

FYI Only: If your device is not locked to a network, you could look at possibly buying a local prepaid SIM card.

Let us know if we can provide you with any further assistance.

Take care

[Virk]

I am not able to see any bell network or even any network signals after getting my roaming enabled for usage of network in India. Please suggest 

[WelshTerrier]

Good Day.

 Roam better is specific to each Bell mobility cell phone service. Have you tried to manually select your local network from your phone's settings? With an iOS device, this can be done from your cellular settings. With an Android phone, this can be done from mobile networks.

Please check out the following instructions & verify that your plan allows for Roaming & that it is activated.

Login to your MyBell account using any web browser. Go to > My Services. From this screen you will see all of the services that are a part of your One Bill account. View each Mobile service by selecting the individual service > Select Mobility Overview > Scroll down the page until you come to My travel features. From here, you will be able to see that Roam Better is activated. If you wish to add a location to a specific mobile cell, Select > Buy travel add-ons & follow the prompt to add a location.

In order to activate Roam better on your mobile phone, you must go to your > Settings > Cellular > Turn on Cellular Data > Select Cellular Data Options > Roaming

I have included a link to better assist you & should answer most of your questions.

Roam Better | International Roaming | Bell Mobility | Bell Canada

Take care.

[MichelR]

I was fine for a few days and then started getting the outgoing calls barred msg but all other roaming services work

[WelshTerrier]

Good Day & Welcome.

Thank you for posting your question.

What is the make and model of your mobility device? Have you tried to do any troubleshooting?

Please have a look at the following common connectivity tips:

Connectivity troubleshooting tips:

• Turn off your device, wait five minutes, turn it back on, and wait another five minutes. This can often resolve temporary connectivity problems.
• Turn airplane mode on and off. This can force your device to reconnect to the network.
• Disable “Low Data Mode” on iOS devices or “Data Saver” on Android devices. While these features are helpful for conserving data, they can sometimes interfere with connectivity.
• To ensure the best possible network connection, especially when travelling to a new destination, set your device’s network selection setting to “Automatic.” This allows your device to automatically connect to the strongest available network and avoids connection issues. If you want to change the network you’re using, use manual network selection.
• Have you tried removing & reinserting your SIM card?
• Check your phone's call settings (often under Menu > Settings > Call Settings > Supplementary Services) to see if outgoing call restrictions are enabled.
• If you have a Samsung device, have you checked that Call Barring has not been inadvertently turned or has been previously activated on another network? Some mobile devices have this supplementary feature option. E.g. Samsung. (The default password for Samsung is 0000.) This feature is not available on Bell Mobility.
• Have you talked to anyone at Bell Mobility?

If the message persists, please contact Bell Mobility at: 1 800 667-0123 or dial *611 from any Bell mobile device. You can use this International toll-free number:  +1 514 420-7748 to contact Bell for roaming inquiries while abroad. It is a free call from any Bell mobile device.

Let us know if we can be of further assistance.

Take care.

[MichelR]

I have a Samsung Galaxy A16 5G but it isn't just my phone where outgoing calls are barred but also my spouse's who has an iPhone so the problem isn't specific to my device and - yes - I've gone through the steps you've outlined with no result.  And so has my spouse on her device - the network we're connected to in Goa India is Vi (Vodafone India) and we can't call any of the numbers you've offered because both phone shows "outgoing calls barred".  what's odd is that we can send texts, browse, receive calls and use WhatsApp but not initiate phone calls

[dks]

Thank you for the clarification. Do you have Bell's Roam Better add on service activated? That might be the cause of your issue. 

[MichelR]

Not only do we have Bell's roam better service (actually it's the annual international roaming package that was on promotion a couple of weeks ago) but we got confirmation of same as soon as we landed in India.  Keep in mind that we had no problems with outgoing call for a couple of days.  We did follow your advice about checking Galaxy's call barring menu and accidentally switched it on and in my attempt to turn it off, it asks for a password - Samsung's website suggested using 0000 or 1919 but neither worked.  Would at least know that code as we may have permanently disabled outgoing calls?  Also, people in India suggesting ignoring the problem and use wi-fi enabled web calling given that we have no restriction on data.  I suspect our problem is that Vodafone in Goa may be treating +1 416 numbers as fraudulent.

[dks]

Thank you for the update. Bell has no access to phone unlocking codes as that is information the manufacturer provides. WiFi calling is not available outside of Canada.  

[MichelR · Accepted solution]

It turns out the resolution was a lot simpler than expected.  All I had to do was take the phone off automatic network connection and select a network that wouldn't block our calls because it was an issue specific to the provider in India.  Thanks for the tip on Wi-Fi calling

[WelshTerrier]

Good Day @MichelR 

Thank you for following up and taking the time in letting us know that everything is now copacetic.

As mentioned earlier, if you are experiencing connectivity issues, please try one of the following:

• "To ensure the best possible network connection, especially when travelling to a new destination, set your device’s network selection setting to “Automatic.” This allows your device to automatically connect to the strongest available network and avoids connection issues.
• If you want to change the network you’re using, use manual network selection."

Enjoy the remainder of your trip.

Take care.

[dks]

Thank you. Your post is the core of this user to user community. We find out new information and share it. Your post is especially helpful as it flags something we would not know as we are not in India. Thank you again for working this issue through. We have all learned something. 

[Cesar Garcia]

I added some roming before leave canada but im outside now and I don't have any service and I'm trying to contact to support but it only takes me to automatic messages 

[WelshTerrier]

Good Day & Welcome to the Bell Community Forum.

As a starting point, which country are you travelling in at this time? Is there mobility coverage in that locale?

Please refer to this coverage map & select your destination. How to use my mobile phone outside of Canada

When you turn on your device, it should automatically connect to the strongest available network.

Connectivity troubleshooting tips:

• Restart your device: Turn off your device, wait five minutes, turn it back on, and wait another five minutes. This can often resolve temporary connectivity problems.
• Toggle airplane mode: Turn airplane mode on and off. This can force your device to reconnect to the network.
• Disable data saving features: Disable “Low Data Mode” on iOS devices or “Data Saver” on Android devices. While these features are helpful for conserving data, they can sometimes interfere with connectivity.
• Check the network selection setting: To ensure the best possible network connection, especially when travelling to a new destination, set your device’s network selection setting to “Automatic.” This allows your device to automatically connect to the strongest available network and avoids connection issues. If you want to change the network you’re using, use manual network selection. For instructions on how to change the network, consult the user guide for your device or the tutorials in our mobile device support section – just select your device from the drop-down menu.

If your connectivity problem persists, you can contact Bell while travelling abroad using the following numbers:

• From a Bell mobile phone: +1 514 420-7748
• From a landline phone in the U.S.: 1 800 667-7626

Note: the "+" represents the international dialling code. To get the "+" symbol on your mobile phone, hold the 0 key for a few seconds until "+" appears on the screen.

Let us know if you require any further assistance.

Take care.