Your eSIM is connected and shows signal bars, but websites take forever to load. The fix depends on which of the three common causes is responsible. Use the table below to identify the most likely culprit, then jump to the matching section.
| Symptom | Most likely cause | What to do next |
|---|
| Speed suddenly dropped from fast to crawling (around 128-384 kbps) | FUP throttling on an unlimited plan | Check your daily data usage below |
| Speed has been slow since you arrived, even with full signal bars | Wrong network mode or misconfigured APN | Try the network mode fix below |
| Speed varies by location (slow indoors, faster outside) | Weak coverage in that spot | Move near a window or switch to a different area |
If you are on an "unlimited" travel eSIM plan, it almost certainly has a daily high-speed data cap under the Fair Usage Policy (FUP). Here is how it works:
- You get high-speed 4G or 5G data up to a daily limit (commonly 1 GB, 2 GB, or 3 GB per day, depending on the plan).
- Once you cross that limit, speed drops to 128 kbps or 384 kbps for the rest of the day.
- Speed resets to full at midnight local time.
At 128 kbps, messaging apps (WhatsApp, iMessage, WeChat) and map navigation still work. Video streaming and large downloads do not.
How to check: Review your plan details in the Roamiya confirmation email. The daily cap should be listed there. If you are not sure how much data you have used, see our
data usage checking guide.
Sometimes your phone gets stuck on a slower network band or uses the wrong APN settings for the partner carrier.
- Settings > Cellular > select your eSIM > Voice & Data.
- Select LTE or 5G Auto (avoid 3G, which is much slower).
- Settings > Connections > Mobile Networks > Network Mode.
- Select LTE/3G/2G (auto connect) or 5G/LTE/3G/2G if available.
If the network mode is correct but data still does not work or is very slow, the APN may be misconfigured:
- Go to Settings > Cellular (iPhone) or Settings > Connections > Mobile Networks > Access Point Names (Android).
- The APN should be set automatically by the partner carrier. If it shows as empty or has values from your home carrier, try deleting the custom entry and restarting the phone so it picks up the carrier default.
Travel eSIMs rely on local cell towers. Signal strength depends on your physical location:
- Basements, elevators, and thick-walled buildings (common in older European and Asian cities) block signal.
- Rural areas, islands, and mountain regions have fewer towers.
- Crowded venues (stadiums, conferences) can cause congestion even with full signal bars.
What to try: Move near a window, step outside, or walk a block in any direction. If speed improves in a different spot, coverage was the issue. You can also try manual network selection to see if a different partner carrier has a stronger signal in your area.
Your phone may be downloading app updates, iCloud backups, or system updates in the background without you realizing it. This eats into your daily data cap and makes everything feel slow.
- iPhone: Settings > Cellular > select your eSIM > Data Mode > Low Data Mode.
- Android: Settings > Connections > Data Usage > Data Saver.
This pauses background downloads and reduces data consumption from apps that are not actively in use.
If you are consistently running into the daily data cap, a plan with a higher daily allowance or a larger total data package might be a better fit for your trip.
Browse destination plans to see options with more data for your destination.
For roaming configuration questions, see our
data roaming settings guide.
