> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.reachplatform.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.reachplatform.com/core-product-structure/international-calling-and-international-roaming.md).

# International Calling & International Roaming

Brand-facing overview of International Calling (ILD) and International Roaming (IR), including PayGo and pack models.

### Overview

Reach supports **International Calling (ILD)** and **International Roaming (IR)** through **configurable commercial models**.

* **International Calling (ILD)**: outbound calling and SMS from the home country to international destinations.
* **International Roaming (IR)**: voice, SMS, and data usage while traveling outside the home country.

Both services can be sold as either:

* **Pay‑As‑You‑Go (PayGo)** using a wallet/credit model.
* **Packs / Passes** with fixed allowances and validity windows.

### Audience and scope

#### Audience

* **Brand product and pricing owners**
* **Brand operations and care teams**
* **Brand marketing teams** writing customer-facing copy

#### In scope

* What **ILD** and **IR** mean in Reach terms
* **PayGo vs packs** behavior and tradeoffs
* Common policies that impact **customer experience**

#### Out of scope

* **Exact rates** and **country lists**
* **Carrier contract details** and **commercial terms**

### How the commercial models work

#### Pay‑As‑You‑Go (PayGo)

**PayGo** is a **wallet-based model**. Customers buy credit up front, or top up as needed.

Typical behavior:

* Usage is charged per unit (minute, message, MB) based on destination or visited country.
* Charges draw down the wallet until balance reaches zero.
* When the wallet is empty, usage stops automatically.

#### Packs / Passes

**Packs** are **pre-defined products**. They include **fixed allowances** and a **validity period**.

Typical behavior:

* Allowances reset on a cycle (monthly add-on) or expire by time (travel pass).
* Unused allowances usually do not roll over.
* Usage beyond the allowance is typically blocked, unless explicitly enabled.

### International Calling (ILD)

International Calling lets customers place outbound calls and send SMS from their **domestic network** to international destinations. It does not require the customer to be roaming.

#### ILD via PayGo

How it works:

* Customer purchases ILD credit.
* Calls and SMS are rated by destination.
* Charges are deducted from the ILD wallet.
* Service stops when the wallet is depleted.

Key characteristics:

* Destination-based rates (landline vs mobile can differ).
* Commonly rated in 60‑second pulses (carrier-dependent).
* No monthly commitment.

Best suited for:

* Occasional international callers.
* Customers who want strict spend control.

#### ILD via packs / bundles

How it works:

* ILD is sold as a plan inclusion or a monthly add‑on.
* Packs are usually defined by a country list or region group.
* Allowances reset each billing cycle.

Common pack patterns:

* Unlimited calling to a small set of destinations.
* Capped minutes to broader destination groups.

Best suited for:

* Frequent international callers.
* Predictable monthly calling patterns.

### International Roaming (IR)

International Roaming lets customers use service while outside their home country. Devices connect to partner networks in the visited country.

Services can include:

* Voice
* SMS/MMS
* Data

#### IR via PayGo

How it works:

* Customer purchases roaming credit before or during travel.
* Usage is rated by visited country.
* Charges are deducted from the roaming wallet.

Key characteristics:

* Country-specific pricing.
* Usage records can be delayed by the visited network.
* Wallet depletion stops service, but visibility can lag.

Best suited for:

* Short trips.
* Light or unpredictable roaming usage.

{% hint style="warning" %}
Roaming usage is not always real-time. In PayGo models, delayed records can create a short-lived mismatch between wallet balance and actual usage.
{% endhint %}

#### IR via packs/passes

How it works:

* Customer purchases a roaming pack for a country or zone.
* Packs include allowances for one or more of:
  * Data
  * Voice minutes
  * SMS/MMS
* Packs have a defined validity window.

Common pack patterns:

* Daily (24-hour) passes.
* Weekly / multi-day passes.
* Region or zone bundles.

Best suited for:

* Travelers who want cost certainty.
* Data-heavy roaming use cases.

### PayGo vs packs (quick comparison)

**PayGo**

* Charges per unit until wallet runs out.
* Predictability is lower, but spend can be capped by wallet balance.
* Best for occasional or irregular usage.

**Packs / passes**

* Fixed upfront cost with defined allowances.
* Predictability is high.
* Best for planned usage and frequent travelers.

### Key policies and expected behavior

#### Activation and eligibility

* International services are often **disabled by default**.
* Brands choose whether customers can self-enable.
* Eligibility can depend on network rules and account state.

#### Allowances, rollover, and expiry

* Pack allowances typically **do not roll over**.
* Packs expire by billing cycle (monthly) or time window (travel passes).
* When a pack expires, service stops or falls back to PayGo (if enabled).

#### Overage behavior

* PayGo: overage is inherently possible until the wallet is depleted.
* Packs: overage is usually blocked once caps are reached.

#### Refundability

* Packs are generally **non-refundable after activation**.
* Refund exceptions are network- and policy-dependent.

### Network and availability considerations

International offers vary by MNO. Some networks support packs with tighter controls, while others are PayGo-first.

Plan for these variables:

* **Destination and country coverage** changes over time.
* **Real-time controls** are carrier-dependent.
* **Rating and record delays** are more common in roaming.
* **Wholesale agreements** drive what can be sold, and at what price.

{% hint style="info" %}
Questions or clarification? Reach out to your respective account manager or email us at <account-desk@reachplatform.com> for help and support.
{% endhint %}


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