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Question

Not receiving SMS while in China, was told Cellular Data is required?

  • October 17, 2023
  • 2 replies
  • 720 views

My mother has a postpaid plan. She’s currently in China and mainly just needs to receive text messages for 2FA. Maybe she’ll send a text or two at some point. 

To avoid data charges, she’s got iphone Cellular Data turned off. 

EasyRoam is NOT added on.

What IS showing on the Add-ons are: International Data Roaming … and International Voice Roaming are included

But she’s unable to receive any text messages. 

I spent an hour with Koodo customer service/tech support today and was told that phones nowadays require data even for texting. That the only solution is to turn Cellular Data ON. However, my mom is reluctant to test and be subject to the $10/MB pay-per-use if it accidentally incurs data. And I find this advice dubious anyway.

What’s the real issue / solution here? Or is tech support guy right?

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2 replies

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  • Mobile Master
  • October 17, 2023

Data should only be required for MMS, not regular SMS. Is she connected to a Chinese network that has a roaming agreement?


  • Author
  • Beginner
  • October 21, 2023

Figured it out

Solution is to have Cellular Data set to ON

BUT, to have Data Roaming set to OFF

Then you can send/receive SMS but avoid accidental data charges