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China, Hong Kong and Macao are three coverage entries, rather than one local-phone-number promise. Choose a shared data allowance for the app connection, then arrange ordinary calling separately if you need it.
Price a fitting data allowance
A planned 4.5GB across the three places becomes 5.625GB with 25% added. The regional 10GB/30-day option fits the ten-day example. A Hong Kong-only local offer needs its own evidence for the China and Macao legs; don’t transfer coverage or calling rights across by geography.
The amounts above are a planned example. For your own dates and use, our trip planner asks for the destination, travel dates, usage style and hotspot need, then returns an approximate amount and available options. Its estimate already includes a buffer.
Which service does the job?
| What you need | A fitting type of service | The decision to settle |
|---|---|---|
| Internet for apps on an unlocked, compatible phone | China, Hong Kong and Macao eSIM | The example fits 10GB for 30 days at A$64.95. Include every data-needed country. |
| Ordinary calls or SMS on the Australian number | Your Australian carrier’s eligible roaming service | Use the service and eligibility for your own mobile plan. Keeping its Data Roaming off does not settle call or voicemail charges. |
| A callable local number | A visitor-eligible local service explicitly including voice or SMS | A data-only eSIM does not meet that number requirement. Establish the supplied calling number and visitor purchase requirements before depending on it. |
A paid roaming comparison for this example
If an eligible Telstra Upfront customer triggers 10 separate Zone 2 Day Pass periods, the A$10 charge totals A$100. The travel-data example above is A$64.95. Day Pass also includes the eligible ordinary calls and SMS, plus 2GB in each charged 24-hour period. The travel eSIM gives you one total data allowance for apps, without those ordinary calls or texts.
Telstra lists the countries in this example in Zone 2. Only use this calculation for an eligible service and those charged periods. A trip lasting 10 calendar days doesn’t automatically produce exactly 10 charges, and another carrier’s rate can differ. If your home plan already includes suitable roaming at no added cost, compare that before buying another service. Telstra’s eligibility, countries and triggers.
If a local number is the deciding feature
Ask the local provider: “Does this visitor offer include a number that can receive ordinary calls or SMS, and what do I need to complete the purchase?” If an ordinary local number is required and the seller can’t confirm it, that offer doesn’t meet the requirement.
Hotspot and setup are separate checks
Planning to share data with a laptop? Ask us to check the exact plan, phone and laptop, including any separate limit on shared data, before buying. Tell us what you need to do and roughly how much you’ll transfer. Enough data for the phone doesn’t guarantee that sharing will work, so keep another suitable connection available for an essential task until those details are confirmed.
Buy before the flight, save the setup email and install after landing on working airport Wi-Fi, hotel Wi-Fi or another steady trusted connection. Then select the travel line for data, follow its roaming/APN instructions and test with Wi-Fi off. The installation guide takes you through the phone controls.
