In plain English
It means the mobile service is connecting through a different network instead of the usual one. This happens when the user is outside the normal coverage area of their own network.
In context
Here, "roaming" labels mobile service being used on a network other than the home network when the user is outside the home network's normal coverage area.
- Situation
- Choosing mobile plans, allowances, roaming, fair-use, and add-ons
- What it communicates
- labels service use outside the home network area.
Meaning limits
By itself, the term does not say anything about the conditions, treatment, or outcome of that use.
Examples
“Outside her provider's normal coverage area, her phone entered roaming on a neighbouring network.”
“Roaming began beyond the border, and both phones stopped using their home networks.”