5 Euros for 1 minute roaming

The deadline for the assessment of roaming data charges by the EU has arrived. Tariff Consultancy's weekly Mobile Pricing News publication illustrated the many changes that have been made since February 2008 when EU Commissioner Vivienne Reding threatened to bring in regulated prices, just as was the case for voice in mid-2007. However, users still need to be aware of that they use the right network, as the lowered charges may not apply from all networks, or if the country they are is placed in a significantly more expensive zone.

 

A few example of excessive roaming voice prices are given below:

 

·         Austrian mobile operators have Serbia - a country in Eastern Europe- classified in the most expensive zone, making a 10-minute call Serbia back home to Austria cost Euro 42.90.

 

·         Vodafone in Ireland has countries such as Albania, Andorra, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Macedonia (former Yugoslav Rep. of), Moldova, Russian Fed., Ukraine and Uzbekistan in Zone 5. A call back to Ireland from Zone 5 is charged at Euro 1.99 per minute when using a partner network or Euro 2.19 when not using a partner network. Vodafone Ireland's most expensive zone includes countries in the continents Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Australia, from where a call back home is charged at Euro 2.99 per minute.

 

·         One of the most expensive rates as Tariff Consultancy's Global Roaming Tariff Tracker  covering voice and data roaming charges reveals is that offered by Greek operators. Cosmote for example levies for a call back home to Greece from a country in zone 6 namely Argentina, Bahamas, Cap Verde, Cuba, Laos and Uzbekistan a per minute charge of Euro 5.95.

 

·         Also in Italy when roaming in a country listed in Zone 4, a minute is charged at Euro 5.00. Calling from Zones 2 and, the per minute charge is Euro 1.67 and Euro 2.50 per minute respectively.

 

Ofcom, the UK regulator, has just published 10 tips on ‘How to avoid the holiday mobile bill blues’. Operators need to especially encourage consumers to use the mobile phone when abroad, but prices of this kind no doubt will prevent users from picking up the phone and making that call.