Difference Between Data Roaming and Cellular Data

数据漫游与蜂窝数据

Cellular data is the ability to use data services via cellular networks, whereas Data roaming is the ability to use such service while roaming outside the geographical coverage area of the service provider. Data roaming is dependent on the agreements between service providers and GRX (GPRS Roaming Exchange) hubs which lead to number of complexities technically, as well as, contractually.

Data Roaming

数据漫游是客户在服务提供商家庭网络之外使用数据服务的能力。在数据漫游中，如果没有家庭网络覆盖范围并使用数据服务，则用户可以连接到外国移动服务提供商的网络。外交服务提供商网络的使用取决于移动服务提供商之间的协议。举例来说，数据漫游是澳大利亚的用户可以前往英格兰并使用在本国使用的同一SIM卡（用户标识模块）在英国访问数据服务。用户可以使用不同的设备，例如手机，笔记本电脑（通过调制解调器），平板电脑等访问数据漫游服务，这些设备支持使用SIM。在数据漫游中，根据服务提供商之间的协议，提供SGSN（服务GPRS支持节点），以转发外国IMSI（国际移动订户身份）范围范围的位置更新请求到GRX。GRX提供商找到了IMSI的家庭网络，并转发到HOME HLR（家庭位置寄存器），并以订户访问配置文件向外国HLR发送回响应。成功的位置更新后，用户可以使用外国网络中的数据漫游。根据3GPP架构，将漫游用户的数据流量直接通过外国SGSN转发到HOME SGSN。

蜂窝数据

Cellular data is the ability of cellular networks to facilitate the data services to the end user. Cellular data concept was standardized with the initiation of GSM. Because, as per the GSM standard the ability to provide cellular data is an essential requirement which falls under bearer services. GSM bearer services offer synchronous or asynchronous data transport capabilities with circuit switched or packet switched data rates of 300 to 9600bps. Currently mobile networks support up to multiple hundreds of Mbps data speeds with 4G technologies due to the huge demand for data via mobile devices. Almost all of the new mobile devices have optimized to use data services via cellular networks. Evolution of mobile networks (Eg. 4G) shows that initial circuit switched voice is also converted into packet switched voice services, which leads to basic function of mobile networks to provide the cellular data services to end users.

What is the difference between Data Roaming and Cellular Data?

Use of cellular data services is increasingly popular due to available high speeds and due to mobility nature. All of the new 3GPP architectures are evolving to cater this market demand, while facilitating the data roaming where users can use data services outside the home network. Presently cellular data is an essential item to the users whether they have home network coverage or not. This is where data roaming facility comes into play. Currently data roaming charges are considerably high when compared with cellular data packages in the home country because of available complexities between integration of the networks, and due to contractual complications. Since cellular data is increasingly popular in the world, charging plans are also becoming complex. Unlike in the 2G and early 3G age, cellular data charging based on the service layers are becoming increasingly essential at present using the features like Deep Packet Inspection(DPI). This complexity is not available with Data Roaming charges because of the minimum popularity when compared with cellular data.

In the general sense, data roaming is a subset of cellular data, which is an essential item as per the current life style of people all over the world. Latest mobile technologies are evolving to cater higher data rates to end users, where cellular data is becoming the core business for mobile service providers.