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220-1201 Practice Question: A user is traveling internationally and complains…

A user is traveling internationally and complains that their smartphone's cellular data stopped working after landing. They have an international roaming plan activated. What should the technician check first to restore data connectivity?

⚠ Common exam trap

The 220-1201 exam often tests the distinction between having a roaming plan (provisioning) and actually enabling the data roaming setting on the device (configuration), leading candidates to incorrectly assume the plan alone is sufficient.

Answer choices

Why each option matters

Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.

Correct answer & explanation

Ensure that the device's data roaming setting is enabled.

When traveling internationally, cellular data requires the device's data roaming setting to be enabled to connect to foreign networks. Even with an active international roaming plan, the smartphone will not automatically use data on a visited network unless this setting is turned on. This is a standard requirement across GSM and LTE networks, as data roaming is disabled by default to prevent unexpected charges.

Answer analysis

Option-by-option breakdown

For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.

  • Verify that the SIM card is not locked to the home carrier.

    Why it's wrong here

    A SIM lock, or network lock, restricts a mobile device to using SIM cards only from its original carrier. However, if a user has an international roaming plan, their existing SIM card is already provisioned and authorized by their home carrier to connect to partner networks abroad. Therefore, the issue is not that the SIM itself is being rejected due to a lock, but rather a device setting preventing data usage through the established roaming agreement.

  • Check if the device's date and time are set correctly.

    Why it's wrong here

    While incorrect date and time settings can indeed interfere with secure network authentication protocols, such as those relying on certificate validation, they are highly unlikely to be the primary cause of a complete failure to obtain cellular data service when roaming internationally. Cellular network registration and basic data session establishment primarily depend on the SIM card's provisioning, the device's radio capabilities, and the network's availability, rather than the device's system clock for initial data connectivity.

  • Ensure that the device's data roaming setting is enabled.

    Why this is correct

    When traveling internationally, mobile devices connect to partner cellular networks in the visited country to maintain service. To utilize cellular data services on these foreign networks, the device's "Data Roaming" setting must be explicitly enabled. This setting is frequently disabled by default by manufacturers or users to prevent unexpected charges, making its activation the most common and direct solution for a lack of data connectivity despite having an active international roaming plan.

  • Reset the device's network settings to default.

    Why it's wrong here

    Resetting network settings clears saved Wi-Fi networks, Bluetooth pairings, and VPN configurations, but does not re-authenticate the device with the international carrier’s roaming partner or re-establish the data session on the visited network. The immediate cause of data loss after landing is typically a failure to register on the foreign network, which requires a manual network selection or a simple airplane-mode toggle to force re-registration. This option is tempting because a network settings reset often resolves persistent connectivity issues caused by corrupted APN or proxy entries, making it correct for domestic data problems unrelated to roaming registration.

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JA

Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security

Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva

This 220-1201 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 220-1201 exam.