IT instructions for traveling abroad

These IT guidelines apply to the use of Metropolia University of Applied Sciences laptops and mobile phones during business trips abroad.

Only Metropolia laptops and mobile phones should be used for work purposes abroad. The same data security rules and regulations as at the workplace apply. Data should not be shared with third parties, and employer-owned devices should not be handed over for use by others. "Third parties" includes family members.

Before you travel:

• Reserve a loan laptop for trips outside the EU/EEA.
• Ensure your VPN connection is working.
• Make sure Bitlocker encryption is enabled on your laptop.
• Ensure your laptop updates are up to date.
• Set up a lock code or fingerprint recognition on your mobile phone.

Mobile subscription use abroad (instructions valid from 1 December 2025 onward)

Within the EU

Metropolia's work phone subscriptions will function as follows within the EU:

• Text messages and calls within the EU are priced the same as in Finland and are included in the package.
• The new 5G subscriptions allow unlimited data usage in Finland. Within the EU, 15 GB of data is included in the monthly fee. Data beyond 15 GB will be charged at €1.30 / GB (VAT 0%). 15 GB is enough for regular browsing, checking emails, and Teams calls without video.
• Avoid using your phone in the EU for video calls, streaming videos, or downloading large files from cloud services. This may cause you to exceed the data limit and incur additional charges.
• Once the data limit is reached, you will receive a text message from Elisa stating the cost: €1.30 per GB (VAT 0%). If you use too much data, your subscription may eventually stop working.

Outside the EU in Reissunet Countries

Outside the EU, a Reissunet data package will automatically be activated on your subscription at a cost of €10.50 (VAT 0%). This only applies to 95 Reissunet countries.

• You do not need to do anything to activate the Reissunet package. It becomes active upon arrival in the destination country.
• Reissunet includes only data, not calls or texts. Make sure VoLTE calls are enabled in your phone settings. Otherwise, incoming and outgoing calls may be very expensive. With VoLTE, calls use data and are not charged as voice calls based on country-specific rates.
• Upon arrival in a Reissunet country, you will receive a text message from Elisa confirming activation of the Reissunet package and the €10.50 charge.
• The Reissunet package includes 1 GB or 1.5 GB of data (depending on the country) for 14 days. This is sufficient for normal phone use, like checking emails or browsing the internet. Avoid downloading large files from the cloud, making video calls, or watching online videos.
• Once the 14 days have passed or the 1 GB / 1.5 GB limit is reached, a new Reissunet package will be automatically activated at the same cost of €10.50. You will receive a text message from Elisa when this happens.

Before leaving for a business trip, make sure your supervisor has approved the charging of international mobile costs to your unit.

Are you traveling to a country where Reissunet does not work?

Do not use Metropolia's mobile subscription in a country where Reissunet is not available, as it may be very expensive. Find out in advance where to best acquire a local prepaid SIM in the destination country. If your phone supports eSIM, you can use an app like Airalo to load a prepaid SIM. If your phone does not support eSIM, find out how to get a local prepaid SIM either by ordering in advance or purchasing it locally. You can agree with your supervisor on the use of Airalo or a local prepaid SIM card.

To be safe, you can completely remove Metropolia’s work SIM card from your phone if you are unsure about the pricing or roaming settings. This way, the foreign network cannot incur costs to Metropolia. At a minimum, the roaming feature must be turned off before your trip and should not be enabled at any point during your travels. Even if you’re not actively using the internet, some updates might start downloading and use data.

In which countries does the Reissunet data package work?

According to Elisa’s website, the Reissunet data package works in the following countries:

Data limit 1.5 GB

Switzerland, Thailand, Türkiye, Russia, United States.

Data limit 1 GB

Albania, Andorra, United Arab Emirates, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei, Chile, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, South Africa, South Korea, Faroe Islands, Georgia, Ghana, Greenland, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Japan, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Kazakhstan, Kenya, China, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kosovo, Kuwait, Lesotho, Macao, Malaysia, Mexico, Moldova, Montenegro, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Qatar, French Polynesia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Tanzania, Tunisia, Ukraine, New Zealand, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Belarus, Vietnam

I am traveling outside the EU. Where can I get a loan laptop for my trip?

Contact Helpdesk and request a loan laptop for your trip. Let Helpdesk know that your destination is outside the EU, and they will provide the laptop.

Read the full instructions in OMA

You can find the full IT instructions for traveling abroad, under the "Codes of Practice" section, in the "Guidelines and Rules" chapter.