Beeline opens 5G roaming in more than 100 countries, expands VoLTE and package rollover
In short
Russian operator Beeline said its 5G roaming is now available in more than 100 countries, covering almost 90% of its roaming customers who have a 5G-capable device. The operator also expanded VoLTE support in countries phasing out 2G and 3G networks, and began carrying unused roaming minutes and data over to customers' home balance. It is also running monthly special rates for calls to Russia from selected countries.
Read the full story 2 min read
Beeline said its 5G roaming service is now available in more than 100 countries, according to reports from RIA Novosti, CNews and iXBT. The operator said the service reaches almost 90% of its customers who use roaming, provided they have a device that supports 5G. Among the countries named in the reports are Belarus, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkey, China, Thailand and the UAE. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
The operator also expanded VoLTE support in international roaming, the technology that carries voice calls over 4G networks. According to CNews and iXBT, this matters in countries where operators have shut down or are shutting down 2G and 3G networks. The named destinations include the United States, China, Japan, Singapore, Israel and Macao. CNews said customers used the service during the football World Cup in the United States. [ 1 , 3 ]
Beeline also changed how it handles leftover roaming allowances. Unused minutes and data from roaming packages are now transferred to the customer's home balance, with minutes multiplied by five and data by ten, CNews and iXBT reported. The documents give the example of five unused minutes becoming 25 minutes for calls within Russia, and 500 MB becoming 5 GB; the resulting packages last 30 days and are transferred automatically. [ 1 , 3 ]
Separately, the operator runs a monthly format called “Round-the-world trip”, under which it enables special conditions for calls to Russia from a changing set of countries. Prepaid customers can receive 30 minutes of calls to Russian numbers for 150 roubles per day, which the company said is ten times below the base price, according to CNews; the option is on by default and requires no activation. CNews reported that the offer applied to Abkhazia and Egypt in July, Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan in August, and Kazakhstan and Tajikistan from October. [ 1 , 3 ]
The documents give no full list of the more than 100 countries covered and no start date for the changes. iXBT alone reported that the number of Beeline customers using international roaming rose 5% year on year over the summer, and 30% in China. [ 1 , 3 ]
Why it matters
The move matters mainly to Russian travellers, who gain 5G data and voice calling in countries where older 2G and 3G networks are being switched off. Unused roaming minutes and data rolling over to the home balance reduces waste on prepaid packages. The documents do not give any figure for the cost of the programme or its effect on Beeline's finances, so the commercial significance remains unstated.
Key facts
- Beeline said 5G roaming is now available in more than 100 countries. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The service is available to almost 90% of the operator's roaming customers, provided they have a 5G-capable device, according to the company. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Countries named as covered include Belarus, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkey, China, Thailand and the UAE. [ 1 , 3 ]
- VoLTE roaming was expanded in countries where operators are shutting down 2G and 3G, including the US, China, Japan, Singapore, Israel and Macao. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Unused roaming minutes and data are now carried over to the home balance, multiplied by five for minutes and ten for data; the resulting packages last 30 days and transfer automatically. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Under the “Round-the-world trip” offering, prepaid customers can get 30 minutes of calls to Russian numbers for 150 roubles per day in selected countries. [ 1 , 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Beeline's 5G roaming is available in more than 100 countries. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Beeline expanded VoLTE support in international roaming in countries retiring 2G and 3G networks. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Beeline introduced transfer of unused roaming minutes and data to the home balance. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Special call rates to Russia are offered monthly from a changing set of countries; prepaid customers can get 30 minutes to Russian numbers for 150 roubles per day. [ 1 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- The exact list of the more than 100 countries covered by 5G roaming. The documents name only a handful of examples and say the service works in more than 100 countries without listing them.
- Growth in roaming customers — the documents give summer-on-summer figures only in one outlet, with no base numbers. Single-source claim; only iXBT reported that the number of Beeline customers using international roaming rose 5% year on year in summer and 30% in China.
- Whether the new conditions were already in force on the publication date or take effect later. The documents describe the services as launched but do not give a precise start date for the 5G roaming and rollover changes.
- The cost to Beeline of the roaming expansion and its effect on revenue or tariffs at home. No document mentions figures, investment or impact on pricing.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Beeline's 5G roaming launch in more than 100 countries is reported by RIA Novosti and, in detail, by CNews. [ 1 , 2 ]
- iXBT reports the 5G roaming expansion, VoLTE growth, package rollover and the “Round-the-world trip” call rates, and cites a 5% year-on-year rise in roaming customers in summer and 30% in China. [ 3 ]