international Internet Access?

March 9, 2010 1:47 PM

So my boss is doing a lot more business in Europe (Switzerland, London, Madrid, Russia, Ukraine etc...). I am trying to find a solution that will keep him connected with some sort of broadband connection. A few more details after the jump.

So my boss is doing a lot more business in Europe (Switzerland, London, Madrid, Russia, Ukraine etc...). I am trying to find a solution that will keep him connected with some sort of broadband connection. I was hoping for advice about any packages through European mobile companies that may allow him to roam in and out of some of the above mentioned countries without spending hundreds of dollars or Euros per month. Also... bonus if you don't have to be a citizen of the EU or have a European address as we are a US company.

Thanks in advance!

posted by pleuroma to Travel & Transportation (4 answers total)

No simple/cheap solution to this exists, unfortunately. There exists no SIM card on which data roaming outside of its home network is not prohibitively expensive.

The best thing to do would be to pick up some kind of GSM modem that isn't locked. (I recommend the Novatel Mifi 2352, which is the EU frequency version.) and then get pre-paid data SIMs from each country in question. It'll mean SIM-swapping, but it's really the only affordable option.

Your only other choice is signing up with one of the wi-fi hotspot providers and hunting down hotspots.
posted by Mwongozi at 2:00 PM on March 9, 2010

My company uses Adam Phones to provide mobile broadband when required. Rates are not too bad, and you can sign up for unlimited packages (at least through Vodafone).
posted by smcniven at 2:03 PM on March 9, 2010

Just to contradict Mwongozi, I want to mention Vodafone Websessions, which is a pay as you go 3g (UMTS) service. It's about €15 for 24h/50MB in a few of countrys. You can get the SIM card + usb stick for around €30. In its native Germany it's a lot cheaper and you get more data volume. The only problem might be aquiring it since they register your ID when you buy a SIM card. But maybe your boss can inquire at a Vodafone shop the next time he is in Germany.
So there are some options around and similar options might be available for other countrys he visits.
posted by mmkhd at 3:26 PM on March 9, 2010

I am not sure it works for just one person but ipass (www.ipass.com) is brilliant. It allows you to log in to local participating networks (wireless as well as large hotel internet services) as if you're a registered user of theirs. I have been using it for a few years and it's great. It would work in all of the above mentioned countries - and many more.
posted by Parsnip at 11:34 PM on March 9, 2010