Google Fi Wireless brings its 5G service to 22 new regions

Thanks to a few updates to Google Fi Wireless, Google’s telecommunications service, customers will experience significant improvements in coverage and speed. The biggest news is that Google Fi will now be “travel ready” with access available in more international destinations, as it expands 5G service to 22 new regions around the world, including Morocco, Colombia and more. Wi-Fi Auto-Connect+ is also expanding to new locations in Europe and Asia. The latter allows Fi customers to access trusted local Wi-Fi networks to offset some of mobile data usage when available. Knowing the difference between Wi-Fi and wireless Internet, be sure to familiarize yourself with where local Wi-Fi can play a role in your wireless coverage.

In a blog post about the service update, Google says the changes help deliver “the most seamless connectivity yet.” In addition to expanding 5G coverage, additional enhancements introduce new VPN availability when using Google Fi, seamless setup and support experiences, expanded Wi-Fi Auto-Connect+ access, and savings for subscribers for a limited time. Basically, if you’re a Google Fi customer and you’re planning to travel anywhere this summer or in the future, you can expect to see greater coverage opportunities during said trip. And if you’re wondering whether or not unlocked iPhones can use Google Fi Wireless, the answer is yes.

With this expansion, Google Fi Wireless is now available in over 110 countries, and while that’s simply too many to list here, Google maintains a full list of available areas on its support page. To use this international coverage, you must first have active service in the United States for at least one day. Google says the terms of service policy applies to all types of SIM cards, including eSIM and physical SIM. So, before any trip, you need to make sure that your phone, service and SIM card are all activated and used for a full day via the Google Fi network. In other words, don’t try to configure everything and activate the service After you left the country.

There is one caveat you should be aware of, especially if you are planning a long trip, such as a month-long backpacking trip through European countries. Google says that “an extended (international) usage period,” defined as “typically 50 days,” will result in a usage cap warning and possibly data suspensions. These suspensions require the device to return to the United States for “at least one week” or up to 30 days depending on the severity of your data breach. During data holds, Google says you’ll still be able to call and text, but you just won’t be able to use data normally.

Google Fi Wireless is what’s called a mobile virtual network operator, or MVNO. This is a network in which the company does not own any wireless hardware or telecommunications network, and in Google’s case it is one of several budget phone carriers that use T-Mobile’s network in the United States. Outside of the United States, this primary carrier may change between T-Mobile’s network and local providers, although the exact provider it switches to is not disclosed. This means that the wireless experience can vary from location to location with different availability, connectivity and speed options.

Not all Google Fi plans support international data, so you need the Premium Flexible and Unlimited plans if that’s what you’re looking for. Even then, Unlimited Premium comes with international data in Canada and Mexico, but for other countries you’ll need a roaming or compatible eSIM. The good news is that you can use just about any phone that works with T-Mobile’s network on Google Fi, but you’ll need an unlocked device if you bring one with you.