When you’re moving house or relocating abroad, internet access shouldn’t wait until your home broadband gets installed three weeks later. If you’re an O2 customer in the UK wondering about temporary internet during a move, or if you’re relocating internationally and comparing what O2 offers against other options, the answer depends entirely on where you’re going and for how long.

We’ve shipped portable WiFi devices to hundreds of people mid-move—some landing in Spain with a campervan, others touching down in France for a three-month work assignment before their flat’s ready. Here’s what actually works, with real trade-offs.

What O2 Offers for Temporary Internet (And Where It Stops)

O2 customers in the UK moving domestically can use mobile hotspot from their phone plan or add a temporary data SIM. O2’s roaming within Europe covers basic data under the post-Brexit fair-use limits (typically 25GB), which helps for short trips but isn’t designed for living and working abroad.

The gap appears when you’re relocating internationally for more than a holiday. O2’s roaming doesn’t cover months of remote work in Portugal or van-lifing across France and Spain. Their consumer plans aren’t built for that, and business roaming gets expensive fast. You’ll need a different solution.

“So many countries we visited over the last 2 months, from Ireland to Turkey and back home again, and they were always there for us 24/7. Truly a pleasure — 150% satisfaction.”
— Sergey Kondratiev, verified ConnectPls customer

Temporary Internet Options When You’re Actually Moving Abroad

If your move involves another country (whether for three months, a year, or indefinitely) here are the four realistic options, compared honestly.

Option	Best For	What It Costs	Real Limitation
Home-carrier roaming (O2, etc.)	First 1-2 weeks only	Included data quickly exhausted; extra charges mount	Not designed for living abroad; fair-use caps kick in
Local SIM card	If you have unlocked phone + local bank account	€15-€30/month typically	Requires local paperwork, bank details, often proof of address; one device only
eSIM data plan	Phone-only internet, short-term (days/weeks)	€5-€20 for 1-10GB	Prepaid top-ups; doesn’t cover laptop or share with family; no physical backup
Portable WiFi subscription	Multi-device households, flexible moves, van lifers	Monthly subscription (no hardware purchase)	Requires planning ahead (device ships 2-5 days); monthly cost vs. pay-as-you-go

When a Local SIM Actually Makes Sense

If you’re moving to one country permanently, staying put, and have time to visit a shop with your passport and proof of address, a local SIM is the cheapest long-term answer. France, Spain, Germany—most have competitive monthly SIM plans once you’re a resident.

The problem is the first few weeks. You won’t have a local bank account or address proof on day one. You’ll need internet to find the flat, arrange viewings, set up utilities. That’s the gap.

eSIM for Quick Phone-Only Coverage

eSIMs are good for keeping your phone online immediately. You buy a data bundle (1GB, 5GB, etc.), install it digitally, and you’re connected. If your move is a solo trip and you only need email and maps for the first week, an eSIM does the job.

It doesn’t help if you’re travelling with a partner who also needs internet, or if you need to work from your laptop in an Airbnb before your permanent place is ready. One eSIM covers one device. And if your phone has a hardware issue, you’re offline.

Portable WiFi Subscriptions for Multi-Country or Month-Long Moves

This is where we see the biggest gap between what people assume and what actually works during relocation. Portable WiFi isn’t just “renting a device for a week in Japan.” It’s become a flexible subscription model for people whose internet needs don’t fit a fixed-address plan.

How the Subscription Model Works for Moving Scenarios

ConnectPls ships a mobile hotspot device to your current UK or European address before you leave. The device is included in the monthly plan (you’re not buying hardware). It arrives in 2-3 working days across Europe, 4-5 in the UK. You pack it, fly, turn it on when you land.

Coverage spans 160+ countries. If you’re moving within the “Group 0” zone (UK, Ireland, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Netherlands, Nordics, Turkey, Canada, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand) you get truly unlimited 4G data with no throttling. That’s the Plus Europe package, and it works the moment you cross borders. No SIM swapping.

The device connects up to 10 devices at once. That means your phone, laptop, partner’s phone, tablet—whatever your household is running during the move. Cloud SIM technology switches between local operators automatically, and there’s a backup physical SIM slot if one network has a gap.

Monthly Billing Without a Fixed Address

This is the part that suits relocating expats particularly well: the billing is monthly and flexible. You activate it for the months you’re in motion. First month in temporary accommodation, second month in a new city while waiting for home broadband installation, third month road-tripping to explore your new country. When you’re settled and have fixed internet, you pause or cancel. No long-term contract.

There’s a £25 fee if you cancel a mobile-router subscription within the first three months, which covers the shipping and return logistics. Beyond that, cancel anytime. We’ve had customers use it for a six-week relocation to France, others for ongoing work across Spain and Portugal with no permanent base.

What About Motorhome Broadband or Van Life Across Europe?

If your move involves a campervan or motorhome (relocating your life while touring France, Spain, Portugal) you’re not going to set up a local SIM in every country. Portable WiFi subscriptions handle this scenario better than anything else.

The Plus Europe package covers France and Spain (and 68+ other Group 0 countries) with unlimited data, no throttling. You drive from Provence to Andalusia, the Cloud SIM switches operators automatically, your family stays online. Delivery before you depart means the device is ready in your van on day one.

Van lifers tell us the 10-device capacity is the difference-maker. Two phones, two laptops, sometimes a smart TV or security camera in the van. One subscription, one device, everything connected.

Renting Pocket WiFi Short-Term vs. Monthly Subscriptions

Short-term pocket WiFi rentals (the kind you pick up at the airport in Japan or Australia) charge per day—£5-£12 typically. That’s fine for a five-day business trip. For a three-week move or a month settling in, the cost adds up to more than a monthly subscription, and you’re locked into return deadlines.

Monthly subscriptions flip that. You’re billed monthly whether you use it 10 days or 30, but there’s no daily rate anxiety and no rush to return the device. If your move timeline shifts (your flat’s delayed, you decide to explore another region first) you’re covered.

How Much Portable WiFi Costs for a Relocation

Daily rentals across Europe or Australia run £5-£12 per day, so a 30-day move is £150-£360. Monthly subscriptions typically sit below that for unlimited coverage, and the device is included. You’re not paying a separate equipment deposit or purchase fee.

The real cost question is whether you need internet for one specific month or intermittently. If you’re moving to Spain in May, staying two months, then flying back to the UK for a week before returning, a subscription you can pause beats paying for days you’re not abroad.

Does Portable WiFi Work Anywhere? Real Coverage for Expats

Portable WiFi works across 160+ countries, but the experience varies by region. The Group 0 countries (most of Europe, North America, Australia/NZ) offer unlimited 4G with no throttling. Group 1 countries like Japan, Singapore, Thailand, China, India have unlimited 4G but may slow after about 5GB in a day—still plenty for work and video calls, just not 24/7 4K streaming. Group 2 countries (Brazil, Egypt, Morocco) have a 500MB daily allowance at 4G, then slow to 256kbps.

For someone moving to France, Spain, Germany, or Portugal, you’re in Group 0. Full speed, no caps. For someone relocating to Tokyo, you’ve got generous daily data that handles remote work but isn’t built for constant large downloads.

Cloud SIM and the Backup Physical SIM Slot

The Cloud SIM handles most operator switching automatically. If one carrier has weak signal in rural Spain, it finds another. The backup physical SIM slot is there if you later want to add a local SIM for calls or as redundancy. This dual-SIM setup is particularly useful during a move when reliability matters more than usual.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use O2 roaming instead of portable WiFi when I move abroad?

O2 roaming works for the first week or two, but it’s designed for holidays, not relocating. The fair-use limit (around 25GB) runs out fast if you’re working remotely, and overage charges build quickly. Portable WiFi subscriptions or local SIMs make more sense beyond the first fortnight.

What’s the cheapest way to get internet during a month-long move to France or Spain?

If you’re moving solo and only need your phone, an eSIM data pack might cost €10-€20 for a month. If you need to connect a laptop, partner’s phone, or any other device, a portable WiFi monthly subscription is cheaper than daily rentals and more flexible than waiting for local SIM paperwork. Local SIMs become cheapest once you have a permanent address and bank account.

How long does it take to get a portable WiFi device before my move?

Delivery is 2-3 working days across Europe, 4-5 in the UK. Order at least a week before your move to be safe. The device ships to your current address, you pack it, and it’s ready to turn on the moment you land. Shipping is included for most EU, UK, and US addresses.