Domestic data roaming

Your device data works a little differently when it's on a non-T-Mobile network, and it has some restrictions.

Metro® by T-Mobile partners with other U.S. carriers to provide service in some areas of the country. When Metro customers use data on these partner networks, this is called "domestic data roaming." While roaming, data services work a little differently and have some restrictions.

How it works

Metro by T-Mobile is always looking for ways to offer as much coverage as possible on our own network, so we must sometimes rely on domestic roaming partners to broaden our domestic coverage. To make this possible, we coordinate with third-party roaming partners in certain areas where we don’t have our own network coverage. In these cases, we don’t have the same ability to provide unlimited data roaming. When you travel outside of Metro by T-Mobile's U.S. network coverage, your phone automatically switches to using wireless data from another carrier. There's no added charge for the service, but we do have to place reasonable limits on off-network usage. You'll receive a usage alert when you've reached 80% of your monthly domestic data roaming usage allotment; then you'll receive a second alert when you reach 100%.

Eligibility

If you are on a Metro by T-Mobile plan that includes data, then you're eligible for a limited amount of domestic data roaming.

Things to keep in mind

• You will not be charged for domestic data roaming. However, once your domestic data roaming allotment has been reached, your data services will be unavailable or slowed until you return to a T-Mobile coverage area or when your payment cycle starts over. If you have a Wi-Fi-capable device, you can still connect to Wi-Fi to access data in non-T-Mobile coverage areas.
  
  
• To reduce data usage when roaming:
  
  
  1. Use Wi-Fi whenever possible, especially when streaming or downloading.
  2. Adjust the settings in your phone to disable data roaming. Head over to the Support, scroll to the Device section, and you'll find your User Guide.
  3. Set email and other social networking applications that synchronize data to "manual" mode instead of "automatic," so you can control when you are syncing data.

• Android phones can use applications like My Data Manager to track and control usage. It's not a Metro by T-Mobile application and doesn't show exact network usage, but it may be useful for general reference.

How much domestic data roaming have I used?

You'll receive a free usage alert via text message to notify you once you use 80% of your monthly domestic data roaming allotment, and another when you reach 100%.

What can I do if I used my domestic data roaming allotment?

Once your domestic data roaming allotment has been reached, your data services will be unavailable or slowed until you return to a T-Mobile coverage area or your payment cycle starts over.

If you have a Wi-Fi-capable device, you can access data on any available Wi-Fi connection.