Due to UK/EU anti-fraud regulations (PSD2), O2 requires a verified identity for international calling. If you bought a SIM from a vending machine, international calling is blocked until you register your ID online or in-store. You aren't removing a technical bar; you are removing a KYC (Know Your Customer) hold.
You get the freedom of dialing out, without the risk of a £400 bill because your pocket dialed a number in the Maldives. Removing O2’s international call barring is a battle of three fronts: the GSMA star codes ( #33# ), the app spend management (My O2), and the network’s credit policy. Start with ##002# and escalate to a human using SS7 terminology. The line is open; you just have to tell the exchange to let you cross it. how to remove international call barring - o2
Google and Apple have aggressive "Do Not Disturb" and "Focus Mode" settings that override network call barring. If your phone is in "Work Focus," the network may still allow the call, but the OS kills it. Ensure your native dialer permissions are set to "All calls." The Nuclear Option: VoLTE & WiFi Calling Conflicts Here is a deep technical edge case that stumps O2 support agents. Due to UK/EU anti-fraud regulations (PSD2), O2 requires
Here is the deep technical and procedural dive into how to dismantle that barrier. Before we get into the codes, let’s understand the why . O2, like all Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), is terrified of three things: Premium Rate Fraud, SIM Swapping exploits, and Bill Shock. You get the freedom of dialing out, without