Kogan NZ WiFi Calling - When Overseas Using Data eSim?

Forums › New Zealand Mobile and Wireless › Kogan NZ WiFi Calling - When Overseas Using Data eSim?

spring09153

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#324202 11-Mar-2026 21:16

I have a mobile plan with Kogan NZ physical sim. iPhone 16 Pro Max.

I am travelling to Australia, and intend to purchase a data only eSim from a provider (yet to decide who).

If I disable the roaming data on my Kogan physical sim + enable the Australia data only eSim, will my NZ based number send and receive calls via WiFi calling, even though technically speaking, I am on a data connection?

I understand that it would work while on WiFi...but the eSim data I couldn't find conclusive answers...

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#3469194 11-Mar-2026 21:18

If you just disable data roaming on your NZ SIM card then a incoming call will trigger daily roaming charge

spring09153

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#3469195 11-Mar-2026 21:23

Linux:

If you just disable data roaming on your NZ SIM card then a incoming call will trigger daily roaming charge

In that case, would this work?

Disable data roaming on Kogan NZ sim
Keep flight mode on 24/7, with Wifi and Data toggled on - essentially killing all NZ based phone/text abilities unless connected to WiFi (and hopefully data)
Use Australian eSim for data

Edit: NVM - the the phone is on flight mode, data cannot be toggled on.

The one piece of information I cannot find is whether Kogan NZ will use a data connection for WiFi calling...

kiwiharry

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#3469235 12-Mar-2026 08:41

Kogan user here. Kogan data roaming is a seperate add-on pack that you have to purchase, so no data roaming charges are automatically applied if you don't purchase the add-on.

I can confirm wifi calling works without the add-on. I also purchased a data only esim for my recent trip to Australia but I could only use it to for internet, maps and messaging apps including calling via WhatsApp etc. I couldn't make my phone use that data connection as a substitute for wifi calling. I could only make and receive normal calls when I was connected to wifi service.

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spring09153

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#3469237 12-Mar-2026 08:47

kiwiharry:

Kogan user here. Kogan data roaming is a seperate add-on pack that you have to purchase, so no data roaming charges are automatically applied if you don't purchase the add-on.

I can confirm wifi calling works without the add-on. I also purchased a data only esim for my recent trip to Australia but I could only use it to for internet, maps and messaging apps including calling via WhatsApp etc. I couldn't make my phone use that data connection as a substitute for wifi calling. I could only make and receive normal calls when I was connected to wifi service.

That's a great help, thank you.

I was unsure about what would happen if I didn't buy the roaming add-on pack...I didn't want to accidentally incur roaming phone/text charges at some ridiculous rate, so its good to know that if I do not buy the roaming pack, it will instead just fail to work at all.

I might still buy the Australian eSim for data only, and know that the WiFi calling/texting will only work if I am connected to a true WiFi connection

Thank you

SpartanVXL

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#3469241 12-Mar-2026 08:57

If you have a iPhone it will do what you are after if you set the Kogan sim’s network setting to manual before you leave.

When you land in Aus it will attempt to connect to Kogan NZ network and fail. The sim will still be active however, and will fallback to wifi calling via any other data connection including esim (not just wifi).

deadlyllama

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#3469258 12-Mar-2026 09:29

VoWifi over 2nd SIM/eSIM support is handset dependent. My wife's Samsung Asomething supports it and has UI toggles for it. My Nokia X20 didn't, when I tried it a couple of years ago.

The foolproof option is a 4G hotspot, + VoWifi :P Unfortunately my "4G" eSIM hotspot is actually HSPA...

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colingu

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#3469876 14-Mar-2026 06:53

I was wondering the same but using a data only sim. My phone is dual Sim and I'm off to Japan. Was planning to leave my One NZ sim in one slot, and Sakura data only Japanese sim in the other slot. Can I make wifi call using the data sim ( in flight mode so One sim can't connect to network)?

Another idea as there are 2 of us, is to use the other person's phone as a Hotspot via Japan data only sim, and wifi call from a second phone. Would that work?

rhy7s

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#3469900 14-Mar-2026 08:47

colingu:

I was wondering the same but using a data only sim. My phone is dual Sim and I'm off to Japan. Was planning to leave my One NZ sim in one slot, and Sakura data only Japanese sim in the other slot. Can I make wifi call using the data sim ( in flight mode so One sim can't connect to network)?

Another idea as there are 2 of us, is to use the other person's phone as a Hotspot via Japan data only sim, and wifi call from a second phone. Would that work?

In the same situation as above. Without a roaming pack activated and roaming turned off, if WiFi calling is turned on can I assume that any calls that came through would be using that? I'm considering the Bamboo eSIM https://bamboosim.com/en/travel-esims/japan?days=15&discount=MARCJAP33&plan=unlimited and using Viber for calls.

spring09153

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#3471192 17-Mar-2026 19:30

Update:

I travelled to Australia and did the following:

Purchased an eSim plan to use Australia - 100GB for 30 days. Installed the eSim app, which would only let me verify my passport/drivers license as ID once I was in Australia (I guess it's looking for an Australian IP address)
Landed in Australia, connected to a WiFi network to activate the eSim - took about 5 minutes
Installed/activated the eSim on my iPhone
The eSim data only plan would NOT simulate WiFi, or trick my Kogan NZ plan in to using WiFi calling, meaning WiFi calling did NOT work while connected to eSim data only
Any time I was connected to a proper WiFi network, WiFi calling worked normally
I did NOT buy the Kogan roaming add-on, and because my prepay plan does not include roaming by default, if someone tried to call or text me when I was not on WiFi it wouldn't connect, and similarly, if I wasn't connected to WiFi I could not call or text anyone
I tested trying to call someone with eSim data off and WiFi off, and the call failed. I tested having someone call me with WiFi off and eSim data off, and they said the call failed or went straight to my voicemail.

I've checked my Kogan plan/bill and do not see any additional charges, so all in all, it worked how I needed.

SpartanVXL

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#3471236 18-Mar-2026 08:18

spring09153:

Update:

I travelled to Australia and did the following:

Purchased an eSim plan to use Australia - 100GB for 30 days. Installed the eSim app, which would only let me verify my passport/drivers license as ID once I was in Australia (I guess it's looking for an Australian IP address)
Landed in Australia, connected to a WiFi network to activate the eSim - took about 5 minutes
Installed/activated the eSim on my iPhone
The eSim data only plan would NOT simulate WiFi, or trick my Kogan NZ plan in to using WiFi calling, meaning WiFi calling did NOT work while connected to eSim data only
Any time I was connected to a proper WiFi network, WiFi calling worked normally
I did NOT buy the Kogan roaming add-on, and because my prepay plan does not include roaming by default, if someone tried to call or text me when I was not on WiFi it wouldn't connect, and similarly, if I wasn't connected to WiFi I could not call or text anyone
I tested trying to call someone with eSim data off and WiFi off, and the call failed. I tested having someone call me with WiFi off and eSim data off, and they said the call failed or went straight to my voicemail.
I've checked my Kogan plan/bill and do not see any additional charges, so all in all, it worked how I needed.

Did you set the Kogan NZ sim to manual network before you left? Try do it now but select a network that it won’t connect to in aus.

The idea is, if the sim doesn’t connect to a roaming partner then it will fallback to wifi calling. If it is connected at all then it will attempt to use the roaming connection which is not what you want.

spring09153

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#3471238 18-Mar-2026 08:24

SpartanVXL:

spring09153:

Update:

I travelled to Australia and did the following:

Purchased an eSim plan to use Australia - 100GB for 30 days. Installed the eSim app, which would only let me verify my passport/drivers license as ID once I was in Australia (I guess it's looking for an Australian IP address)
Landed in Australia, connected to a WiFi network to activate the eSim - took about 5 minutes
Installed/activated the eSim on my iPhone
The eSim data only plan would NOT simulate WiFi, or trick my Kogan NZ plan in to using WiFi calling, meaning WiFi calling did NOT work while connected to eSim data only
Any time I was connected to a proper WiFi network, WiFi calling worked normally
I did NOT buy the Kogan roaming add-on, and because my prepay plan does not include roaming by default, if someone tried to call or text me when I was not on WiFi it wouldn't connect, and similarly, if I wasn't connected to WiFi I could not call or text anyone
I tested trying to call someone with eSim data off and WiFi off, and the call failed. I tested having someone call me with WiFi off and eSim data off, and they said the call failed or went straight to my voicemail.
I've checked my Kogan plan/bill and do not see any additional charges, so all in all, it worked how I needed.

Did you set the Kogan NZ sim to manual network before you left? Try do it now but select a network that it won’t connect to in aus.

The idea is, if the sim doesn’t connect to a roaming partner then it will fallback to wifi calling. If it is connected at all then it will attempt to use the roaming connection which is not what you want.

No I didn't make any changes to the NZ Kogan sim before leaving NZ. When I landed in Australia I did get a "Welcome to Australia, tap here to learn more about roaming" text from Kogan, but I didn't do anything with it.

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SpartanVXL

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#3471240 18-Mar-2026 08:35

This means your Kogan sim is connected to a roaming network, wifi calling over esim won’t work.

You need to try select a network that it won’t connect to in your sim network settings.

This ‘solution’ is a hack/workaround because you can’t outright disable the sim but you need it to not connect in the normal sense.

It’s a pain in the butt to configure but when it works it works.

CYaBro

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#3471242 18-Mar-2026 08:42

I will try with my Kogan SIM when we go to Australia in the upcoming school holidays.

I've already turned it off Automatic for the network selection and manually selected One NZ, is that all I need to do before we leave?

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SpartanVXL

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#3471245 18-Mar-2026 09:08

CYaBro:

I will try with my Kogan SIM when we go to Australia in the upcoming school holidays.

I've already turned it off Automatic for the network selection and manually selected One NZ, is that all I need to do before we leave?

Yes this the guaranteed way. NZ network doesn’t exist overseas so it will never connect. When you return it will just work as normal. ( if you set it to it’s own provider)

OP has the problem now of aussies network pretty much all allow roaming for nz sims. Finding one that doesn’t allow him to connect might be difficult.

spring09153

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#3471248 18-Mar-2026 09:18

SpartanVXL:

CYaBro:

I will try with my Kogan SIM when we go to Australia in the upcoming school holidays.

I've already turned it off Automatic for the network selection and manually selected One NZ, is that all I need to do before we leave?

Yes this the guaranteed way. NZ network doesn’t exist overseas so it will never connect. When you return it will just work as normal. ( if you set it to it’s own provider)

OP has the problem now of aussies network pretty much all allow roaming for nz sims. Finding one that doesn’t allow him to connect might be difficult.

Because my Kogan plan is prepay, and I did not enable the roaming option, the Kogan plan effectively "broke" as soon as I left NZ. It never connected to a local Australian network and was not capable of sending/receiving calls unless connected to WiFi.

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