Service Instruction

I. What is GSM international roaming?
GSM international roaming means that mobile phone users of GSM can still use GSM mobile phone to make communications in other countries and regions’ other networks when leaving out of the home network. GSM international roaming is only provided in countries and regions which have network system compatibility and have signed bilateral roaming agreement. For China Unicom network, it is mainly divided into international roaming of China Unicom users and international roaming of overseas users.

II. GSM HK, Macau and Taiwan Roaming
Because China Unicom cannot cover HK, Macau and Taiwan, when users go to HK, Macau and Taiwan, they can only use the local operators’ network of HK, Macau and Taiwan. China Unicom has now opened bilateral roaming service with all HK and Taiwan GSM operators, so China Unicom users can use their China Unicom mobile phone number in HK and Taiwan with the same roaming method as the GSM international roaming method.
The following instruction is the roaming service of China Unicom GSM users (130, 131 and 132 users) in HK, Macau, Taiwan and other countries and regions.

III. Transaction of GSM International Roaming Service
When accessing to internet, China Unicom users do not enjoy international roaming and international long-distance function initially, and users shall take China Unicom GSM mobile phone and go to local China Unicom business hall to transact and open China Unicom GSM international roaming and international long-distance service before visiting foreign country. Basic methods to handle international roaming service are as follows:
1. Transaction for yourself: take personal ID card
2. Transaction for unit: take the certificate issued by the unit
3. Transaction for others: take your personal ID card and the phone owner’s effective ID card
The transactor shall pay certain amount of prepayment call charge or deposit. This is only provided for reference, for various Unicom branches have different transaction flow requirements. Please dial China Unicom’s local customer service telephone 10010 for detailed transaction flow and requirements.

IV. Service Type
Based on different network systems and frequency ranges of the visited country and region, GSM international roaming can be divided into automatic roaming and semi-automatic roaming.

1. Automatic roaming
Automatic roaming refers to the roaming which can be completed by mobile phone and SIM card of the user. As long as the user chooses roaming network (have opened roaming service with China Unicom) of the visited place, the user can utilize the most basic voice service and short message service.

(1) Automatic roaming of GSM network adopting the frequency range of 900MHz/1800MHz
GSM network of China Unicom adopts the frequency range of 900MHz/1800MHz. All GSM mobile phones in China market are GSM900/1800 double-frequency mobile phones, so China Unicom users can completely realize automatic roaming by adopting the frequency range of 900MHz/1800MHz. at present, most countries and regions in Europe, Africa and Asia (except Japan and Korea) adopt such frequency range and system.

(2) Automatic roaming of GSM network adopting the frequency range of 1900MHz
GSM network of most countries and regions in America (such as America and Canada) and some island countries of Oceania adopt the frequency range of 1900MHz. Users who use domestic double-frequency mobile phones cannot realize automatic roaming in these areas. However, there are many GSM900/1800/1900 chocolate mobile phones (refer to “main types of chocolate mobile phone”) in China market, and users can take such mobile phone to realize automatic roaming in 1900MHz GSM network.

(3) Automatic roaming of GSM network adopting the frequency range of 850MHz
GSM network of some countries and regions in America (such as Panama) adopt the frequency range of 850MHz. because these networks are mostly newly established in these two years, there are fewer GSM four-frequency mobile phones with such frequency range. Fewer types are listed in “main types of chocolate mobile phone”. Users can use automatic roaming in these countries and regions as long as users take four-frequency GSM mobile phones. If you cannot find proper mobile phone in China, you can hire corresponding type of mobile phone from the mobile phone lease agent designated by overseas operators.

2. Semi-automatic roaming
Semi-automatic roaming means that you can take the original SIM card, but you couldn’t user domestic mobile phone to complete roaming. To make such roaming come true, users should hire a local mobile phone in which SIM card can be inserted. As long as the user hire suitable mobile phone and insert SIM card and choose roaming available network, the user can use the most basic voice service and short message service in English. What shall be paid attention is that hired mobile phone does not support Chinese in general, so users cannot receive and send short message in Chinese in semi-automatic roaming.

(1) Roaming in Japan
Japan network adopts the 3G GSM (WCDMA) technology, different from the current GSM network system of China Unicom, so users cannot take the current GSM mobile phone to enjoy automatic roaming in Japan. To realize roaming, users should hire corresponding type of mobile phone from the mobile phone lease agent designated by Japan WCDMA operators. Refer to various operators’ materials listed in “roaming countries and regions – Japan” for more detailed information.

(2) Roaming in Korea
Korea network adopts CDMA technology, different from the current GSM network system of China Unicom, so users cannot take the current GSM mobile phone to enjoy automatic roaming in Korea. To realize roaming, users should hire corresponding type of mobile phone from the mobile phone lease agent designated by Korea operators. Refer to various operators’ materials listed in “roaming countries and regions –Korea” for more detailed information.

V. Important Notice of International Roaming
Before going abroad, please confirm the following matters:
1. Whether China Unicom has opened GSM international roaming service with the country or region you are going to go. Please consult the roaming country and region for the latest opening situation. You can consult relevant operators’ information of the country or region you are going to go and pay attention to other important notices.
2. Have you applied for international roaming service and international long-distance service, if not, please take relevant certificate and handle relevant application procedure in China Unicom business hall; if you are a VPN user of China Unicom, you should handle additional special procedures. Please refer to China Unicom’s local customer service telephone 10010 for specific requirements and procedures to apply for international roaming service.
3. Whether it is necessary to change mobile phone for the country or region you are going to go. There is special prompt in the materials of operators listed in “roaming countries and regions”.
4. Please fully charge your mobile phone battery before going abroad to prevent trouble caused by failure of work owing to no electricity of your mobile phone.
5. Attaching plugs in some countries are different from those in China. You can ask your hotel to provide and change plug. If you go abroad frequently, it is better for you to prepare a multi-functional attaching plug to meet the needs of different standard attaching plugs.
6. So far, China Unicom has not provided international automatic roaming service for GSM prepayment users.