Does AT&T work in Spain?

Is it your first time to travel to Spain and you are wondering your AT&T SIM or phone will work seamlessly when you are there? Then, you have come to the right place. In this article, we will answer the question on whether AT&T works in Spain and evaluate its reliability.

Using your cell phone overseas isn’t exactly the cheapest option but you have to remain connected so as to get hold of your family, boss and friends when abroad. The last thing you truly want is coming home to a wireless bill that is almost the size of your mortgage payment. Generally, the hugest problem that most travelers have when going to places such as Spain is the international roaming vs. the local prepaid SIM dilemma which leaves them quite frustrated.

Well, AT&T indeed works in Spain. However, you may have to pay higher premiums and deal with a slower data service.

AT&T in Spain

While Roaming in Spain, AT&T charges about $1.40 every minute for all phone calls that you make and it would cost you about $1.95 per kilobyte of data. In as much as it sounds too little, it slowly accumulates to a huge bill that you not be able to easily process. When it comes to text messaging, AT&T charges 50 cents for every text message.

A summary Table

Cell Phone Provider	Service while Roaming in Spain	Costs
AT&T	Text Messaging	50 cents per text
	Phone Calls	$1.40 per minute
	Data	$1.95 per KB

Tips for using your cell phone in Spain

Getting a foreign SIM card for your phone when going to Spain is definitely the least expensive option for you. The only problem with this is that you would have to take a lot of time going to a physical store to purchase the SIM card. In addition, you would also need to get a local Spanish phone number that would require you to forward your calls as any calls to your US number would not ring on your phone. Now, to contact your family, friends and relatives around the globe, you will have to give them your new Spanish number. Unfortunately, these SIM cards only last for a year so you can’t re-use them for your frequent travels.

The other thing that you can consider is that using a SIM card from a local carrier in Spain only works seamlessly when you have an unlocked GSM world phone. Fortunately, most phones from AT&T fit into this category. As long as AT&T has unlocked your phone for you then you can comfortable access all your telecommunications and network needs when you have travelled to Spain. You should also know that AT&T does not unlock iPhones for use overseas so you may have to do that on your own.

So, should you get a local SIM instead of using your already existing AT&T wireless service?

This really depends on the duration of time that you intend to spend in time. It also depends on whether you are ready and willing to go through the hassle of purchasing a new SIM card and using a new Spanish number. It becomes the best option is you plan on using a lot of data or when you will be gone for over a month. Alternatively, you can always use the Wi-Fi whenever you can to save yourself any communication hassle.

What are the data costs under the AT&T international roaming plan?

When it comes to data access and usage, the local prepaid option is more cost-effective. However, if you choose to subscribe to AT&T’s international roaming plan as the most deal solution for avoiding any outrageous roaming fees, you should expect the following charges;

Data	Price
125 MB	$125 per month
800 MB	$200 per month

 

In the event that you end up exceeding these amounts, AT&T will charge you $10 for an additional 10 MB.

At this point, you may be wondering how you can subscribe to AT&T’s international roaming plan. Well, all you need to do is either call the AT&T customer service or go to their website and log into your account. Once you have done this, you should go to the section for international roaming plans and sign up for any international roaming plan that costs you less to talk. Though you can avoid these, by using VOIP services such as Skype and Facetime over a Wi-Fi connection.  Next, you can pick a messaging plan based on your preferences. Talk and text options are less expensive but data will genuinely cost you a ton.

Conclusion

If you do not want to use data roaming at all, always make sure that you are not using your data unknowingly when you aren’t near a Wi-Fi hotspot. Also, once you have subscribed to an international roaming plan, you have to keep the service until the end of your billing cycle so that the costs aren’t prorated.

FAQs

1. Does AT&T work internationally?

Yes, it does. You even have the option to subscribe to an international roaming plan to reduce any outrageous premiums.

2. Does AT&T charge for international texting?

Generally, texts sent through applications have the potential to incur data charges.