Roaming abroad from Megafon - overview of options and services

Egypt's mobile communications system is one of the most developed in Africa. The largest operators in the country are three companies: Mobinil, Etisalat and Vodafone. They provide the same services at approximately the same prices.

Communication is only available in tourist and densely populated regions of Egypt. Most of the country's territory is desert, and there is no mobile coverage there.

A distinctive feature is cheap mobile Internet when purchasing a local SIM card. And you can buy it almost everywhere: at the airport, communication shops, shops and hotels.

We recommend that you first evaluate the quality of the Internet in the hotel and if it does not satisfy you, look for a SIM card.

The nuances of mobile communications when planning a trip to distant countries or how not to disconnect your native SIM card

Before getting ready for a long journey, do not forget about mobile communications.
Some people, when going on a trip, turn off their cell phones for this period of time or use foreign SIM cards, hoping to save money. But we want to assure you that this method does not bring any savings, but on the contrary, tariffs in other countries are very expensive compared to ours. In addition, in order to use a local telephone card, you will have to somehow notify your loved ones about the change of number and this will not save money.

Therefore, let us introduce you to the conditions for using the roaming option from the Megafon operator:

1. First of all, you should pay attention to the state of your personal account - the subscriber’s balance must be positive .
2. To activate the option, it is necessary that in the country where you are traveling, it is possible to receive a signal from Megafon.
3. Activate the roaming option on your number (you will learn about this later in the article).

When leaving, check in advance for information about roaming opportunities on the official website.
In roaming, all standard options included in the operator’s tariffs will be available:

• Incoming and outgoing calls.
• Package of SMS and MMS messages.
• Internet connection.

In most countries of the world, online tariffs apply , but not in China, Greenland, Palestine, and some countries of Central and South America, so Megafon subscribers have the opportunity to activate an extended roaming option on Megafon (without a monthly fee or connection fee) if a trip is planned exactly to those parts.

Call price

Cellular communications
So, let's go over the prices to roughly understand how much cellular communications will cost in Egypt. To buy a SIM card , you will have to pay about 25 pounds, which in our money is about a thousand rubles. One minute of conversation with a federal number of a local subscriber, both a beautiful number and a regular number, will cost an average of 15 rubles. One text message costs the same. An SMS sent to your homeland in Russia will cost a little more, 23 rubles . One minute of conversation with a relative from Russia costs the same amount by the most conservative standards.

In most tariffs, international calls are charged more expensively; one minute of conversation can reach more than thirty rubles. But incoming calls if connected to a local operator will be completely free.

Internet

How to activate international roaming for traveling abroad?

To connect any services, the Megafon operator provides a number of standard methods.

Roaming is no exception, and if you want this service to work on your number, then:

• Call support service to the short number 0500 .

Technical support phone number.

• the service center specialists in your city with this question
• Personal Account will help you connect to the service yourself .

Authorization

Go to the “Roaming” section

Select the desired option and click on the “Connect” button

Popular options from Megafon for international roaming

Now we will help you choose a profitable package that was developed for subscribers who often use roaming services.

The whole world

As you know, being outside the home and national networks, subscribers pay not only for outgoing calls, but also for incoming ones.

Related material: How to enable or disable the “All Russia” option from Megafon?

With Megafon, paying for incoming calls will not bother users for some time, since the tariff provides for the accrual of 40 free minutes of incoming calls and this is for a symbolic fee of 99 rubles. per day.

Compared to the prices for calls in the roaming zone, the monthly fee for the “Whole World” function can be considered symbolic.

The option is activated using the USSD request: *131*1# . You can also send a message to 0500978 . In addition to who has access to your Personal Account, all settings can be made there yourself.

Ussd command for connection.

SMS request for connection.

Voice assistant for connection.

Do not forget that the subscription fee is charged for the entire time the option is activated, so when you return back, to avoid unnecessary expenses, you should disable it. This can be done, again using the special command *131*0#, Personal Account or SMS with the word STOP to the number indicated above.

SMS request to disconnect.

Ussd shutdown request.

Around the world

If you want to know how much it costs to call home from other countries of the world, then check out Megafon’s price list. Prices are for standard mode.

For economy mode, we advise you to activate the “Around the World” option, with which the costs of calls and SMS will significantly decrease.

To enable this option, Megafon also provides a USSD command - *105*708# . The connection is also made by sending an SMS to the number 000105708 .

Ussd command for connection.

SMS request for connection.

25/50 minutes World

By activating the option, the subscriber can initially choose how many minutes he will need on the trip - 25 minutes for 829 rubles or 50 minutes for 1,429 rubles.

The 25/50 minutes World option can also be activated in your Personal Account.

These minutes can be spent on all calls, the only exception being outgoing calls abroad and not in the Russian Federation.

25/50 minutes Europe and CIS

This option works in the same way as the previous one.

It is possible to activate the “25/50 minutes Europe and CIS” options on the Megafon website without logging into your Personal Account.

The only difference is the cost of the service:

• For 25 minutes within European and CIS countries you will have to pay 329 rubles.
• For 50 minutes within the same limits - 495 rubles.

50/100 SMS World

For those who are going to save on calls and communicate via text messages, this option will come in handy:

• A package of 50 text messages will cost 990.00 rubles.
• Package of 100 SMS – 1190.00 rubles.

Features of the provision of sms packages posted on the Megafon website.

50/100 Europe and CIS

The package is more limited geographically, but the cost here is lower, which is good news:

• 50 SMS in Europe and the CIS will cost the subscriber 690.00 rubles.
• 100 SMS – 790.00 rub.

Checking SMS balance:

USSD command.

Reply message.

World Online

Allows Megafon subscribers to use unlimited traffic while in any of 43 countries of the world (the list can be found on the operator’s website). A subscription fee of 600 rubles per day will be charged for the service.

If you agree to these conditions, then you can activate “World Online” using the command – *136# and the call button at the end.

Ussd command to manage the option.

SMS request for connection.

SMS request to disable the option.

Again, we warn you that upon returning back to your homeland, you must disable the option, since the subscription fee is debited automatically for each day.

Vacation Online

This is another option that allows you to enjoy preferential conditions for Internet access while roaming.

The connection fee is only 30 rubles, and the tariff is set to pay for each megabyte used. For the opportunity to surf social networks, listen to music and download files, the subscriber will pay 15 rubles/MB.

To connect, remember the command – *501# and the call button. You can refuse the service in the same way by completing the request - *501*0# or sending a message with the word STOP to the number 0500960 .

Connection option.

Request to disable the option.

SMS request to disconnect.

Internet options

Enable special optimization options for using the Internet while roaming abroad from Megafon, which will help you significantly save on traffic consumption.

Vacation Online

The service provides fixed and low rates for loaded data traffic. Peculiarities:

1. Activation cost is 30 rubles.
2. No subscription fee.
3. Mobile traffic is charged at 15 rubles per megabyte.
4. Valid for 30 days after connection.
5. The Internet limit is rounded up to 100 kilobytes.
6. When switching to another tariff plan, the option is automatically transferred subject to compatibility.
7. If the subscriber has enabled international roaming prohibition, the function does not work.

To connect, enter the sequence *105*0060# or send an SMS to “0500960” with the text “YES” or “STOP” to deactivate.

World online

Completely unlimited mobile internet from your phone. Subscription payment – ​​600 rubles per day. Valid abroad in the following countries:

The volume of traffic is unlimited. If more than 1 gigabyte has been used per day, the provider limits the data transfer speed to 64 kilobits per second until the next billing period. Does not work when transmitting traffic via Wi-Fi. The extension takes place according to Moscow time; if at this moment there are not enough funds on the balance, then access to the network is blocked.

Connection:

1. Personal account.
2. USSD code *136#.
3. SMS to “05001190” with the text “YES” or “STOP” to turn it off.

Subtleties of roaming in individual countries

We would like to enlighten you not only about useful additional options, but also about the conditions that apply in some countries of popular destinations. Since the tariff on your room will depend on which of them you plan to go to.

Material on the topic: Megafon also raised prices for international roaming

Roaming in Turkey and Europe

All calls in the direction Turkey - Russia and back will cost the subscriber 79.00 rubles per minute, the same rate will be for subscribers who decide to call within the country. Calls to other countries – 129 rubles.

When planning a visit to European countries, consider these same prices.

Internet access is provided in packages of 70 MB and costing 350 rubles. for every . Regarding messages, only outgoing messages are paid for.

As you can see, roaming tariffs are quite high, so it’s worth paying attention to Megafon’s additional services, which we wrote about above.

Roaming in Egypt

As it turned out, Egypt is more expensive for Russians in terms of mobile communications, because all calls made from its territory and within its borders, as well as to other countries of the world, will cost users 129.00 rubles. in a minute. The cost of one outgoing message from Egyptian resorts will be 25.00 rubles.

But Internet access will be limited to a package of 50 MB per day, for which the subscriber will pay 350.00 rubles.

Roaming in North America and Oceania

For the USA, Canada and the countries of the South-Eastern part of the globe, standard rates for messages and Internet access are provided, but calls from these countries will have to be more expensive - 199 rubles each. in a minute.

This, of course, will not be a problem for those who enable additional options, such as “The Whole World” or “Around the World”.

Please note the cost of services with and without the roaming option.

Mobile communications from CIS countries

As a separate point, I would like to discuss roaming in the countries of the former Soviet Union, since each region has its own tariffs.

Material on the topic: How to connect from Megafon?

CIS countries also have their own special offers aimed at reducing roaming costs. Thus, for Abkhazia, Megafon’s option “Like home in Abkhazia” operates, according to which subscribers who connect it for 30 rubles can take advantage of preferential services.

It is also relevant now to use Megafon’s “Crimea” option, since to this day the use of Russian mobile communications is only possible under roaming conditions. By activating the “Crimea” option for 15 rubles per day, you can make calls and send messages at reduced rates.

USSD request to connect roaming in Crimea.

Request to disable roaming.

Buying a SIM card and topping up your account

Most tourists prefer to use hotel Wi-Fi, but not everywhere it has good speed and stability. If you are a fan of social networks, Youtube or use the Internet for remote work, we do not recommend relying on the Internet at the hotel. The optimal solution is either buying a tourist SIM card at home, which you can profitably use in any country in the world in the future, or buying a card from a local operator.

All mobile companies offer the purchase of prepaid SIM cards. The card itself costs 25 pounds (just under 2 euros). Terms of provision for holidaymakers. In order to buy and register a SIM card, you must have an identification document with you. Since the first and last names must be written in Latin letters, such a document for Russian citizens can only be a foreign passport.

You can purchase the card at the airport immediately after arrival. SIM cards are also sold in mobile phone stores and specialized stores. Be careful: at points of sale that are located in tourist areas, prices are often inflated.

Estimated prices for mobile Internet are approximately as follows:

• 12 gigabytes – 150 Egyptian pounds (10 €)
• 20 gigs - 250 pounds (12.5 €)
• 40 gigs - 400 pounds (27.5 €)

Operator offers may differ slightly due to a larger number of minutes for phone calls and SMS.

Top up your account in a given country using payment cards. Each card contains a code hidden under a protective layer that must be entered into the phone. Before this, you need to dial the mobile number also indicated on the card.

Useful Megafon tariff settings for those traveling abroad

Very often, for vacationers outside the country, replenishing the balance of their phone becomes a big problem. To prevent this from happening to you, we recommend that you turn to these and “Autopayment” from Megafon. Thanks to them, your phone will always stay in touch and you can contact your loved ones at any time without worrying about your balance going into minus.

Auto payment:

USSD request to enable auto payment.

SMS request for connection.

There are special commands to monitor the account status, but checking their balance each time takes some time. But why waste it on empty activities when you can spend it on sightseeing or other more pleasant moments.

Having connected from Megaphone, the system will automatically monitor it and provide information on the gadget’s display.

Description of roaming on the official Megafon website.

“Megafellow” option from Megafon will help you get all the information about mobile communications in the region where you are going . Her responsibilities include providing information on the cost of roaming services in the local region, how to top up the phone or check the account balance.

Also pay attention to the “Call Back” when communicating with the operator’s hotline, since it is designed specifically for cases such as roaming, where every minute is worth its weight in gold.

Description posted on the Megafon website.

Useful video:

How to call Egypt from Russia

The country code is 20. To call Egypt from Russia, first dial intercity (8), then go to the international communication center (10), do not forget to also dial the locality code. When calling from a mobile phone, you do not need to do this - the call goes straight through international communication.

To mobile phone

If the subscriber uses cellular services in roaming, the call occurs in the same way as in Russia. But if the card is replaced with an Egyptian one, you will need to dial the international prefix instead of “eight”. For example:

• +20-000-000-00-00.

To a landline phone

To make a call to a landline phone, dial “8”, wait for the dial tone, “10”, “20”, the prefix of the required city and the number itself.

For example, to call Cairo:

• 8 (beep), then 10 and 20, then 02 (Cairo code) and a number (let's say 1234567).

Below are the telephone codes of the most popular resort towns and tourist centers in the country:

• Cairo - 02;
• Luxor - 095;
• Hurghada - 065;
• Sharm el-Sheikh - 062.

Internet roaming abroad from Megafon

If you are an active user of the latest service, then please note that using Internet access is very expensive, so you should familiarize yourself with the terms of your tariff and possibly connect additional services that will reduce the cost of accessing the network.

I would especially like to note that in terms of access to the network, the “World Online” and “Vacation Online” options will be very useful, which are designed specifically to reduce the cost of the Internet in roaming conditions.

Description and cost of the “Vacation-Online” option.

How to disable Megafon's international roaming abroad?

If you still decide that you will do without this operator service on your trip, then to deactivate it you need to ban international roaming from the Megafon operator.

To do this, find the appropriate section in your Personal Account settings and deactivate the option. The operator’s technical support by calling 0500 will also help with this.

After roaming is deactivated when crossing the border of the Russian Federation, Megafon services will no longer be delivered to your phone.

Who would like “Roaming, goodbye!” MegaFon, and who doesn't?

To both private and corporate MegaFon clients who need mobile communications abroad, “Roaming, goodbye!” will come in handy. Only for corporate clients the prices and volumes of minute packages differ.

Based on reviews from some subscribers, it can be judged that after the innovations, using the service is not entirely convenient. It is not advisable to connect it if you want to pay per minute for incoming calls abroad to MegaFon. The cost of the service will be unreasonably high for those who only need a couple of minutes of voice communication per day and do not need SMS and the Internet.

Also, you should not think about connecting if you plan to stay in foreign countries for a long time or even permanently, while maintaining your phone number. In this case, it would be more correct to temporarily block the SIM card (“Voluntary number blocking”). The service is also paid. Its maximum validity period is 180 days.