Issue: 26/08

Roam Fair Campaign

July 09, 2008

ATUG has been pressing the Government to do something to reduce the “bill shock” from international roaming prices.

Anybody who has travelled overseas and used their mobile phone knows how useful it can be to reach loved ones and conduct business using international mobile roaming. They also know the significant cost they pay for this privilege.

The House of Representatives Communications Committee is now inquiring into whether international mobile roaming charges are fair. Submissions have to be lodged by 15th August.

ATUG wants to let everyone know the opportunity is NOW to get these preposterous rates down.

Around the world other Governments have tackled this issue head on – it’s time that this happened in Australia.
All the evidence suggests industry will not move to reduce these prices without strong action and ongoing monitoring by Government.

Viviane Reding, the European Commissioner has been very clear with industry on voice charges:

‘the prices paid by the consumers for international roaming services, when traveling within the Community, should not be unjustifiably higher than the charges they pay when calling within their home country.’
These charges are now substantially less for European end users – due to regulation.

Ms Reding is now focused on SMS and Data Roaming charges,

‘Sending text messages or downloading data via a mobile phone while in another EU country should not be substantially more expensive for a consumer than sending text messages or downloading data at home. Higher retail charges abroad must be justified by additional cost of operators, or they will have to disappear.’

According to Ms Reding, “Regulators in the countries of the Arab League, the Indian regulator and several African regulators have started to act in the same direction. We see here globalisation working clearly in the interest of consumers. More and more consumers are globetrotters – they also expect to use mobile communications at ease wherever they travel around the globe.”

ATUG agrees!

There is no legitimate reason why it costs end users many, many times more to make a call or send an SMS or access the web when they are traveling than when they are at home.

It is time for end users to tell their “bill shock” horror stories and for the Australian Government to act.

ATUG is holding forums across Australia to give end users an opportunity to tell us about their experiences.

Everyone is welcome.

Details are at http://www.atug.com.au/all_cal_events.cfm

ATUG is setting up a blog so that everyone can contribute their stories. Go to http://www.atugblog.com.au/

Please direct all enquiries to Lauren McGinley on 0416 245 478

International Roaming Rates

Case Study 1 -
Postpaid, Australian user based in UK, roaming calls NOT included in plan caps i.e., additional to monthly cap plan payment, around $69 per month cap

Optus – UK is Zone 3; 20% discount for Bridge Alliance networks

SMS - $.75
Call received – $1.17 pm
Call to UK number (per minute; then per 30 second) $1.50 pm
Call to non-UK number (per minute; then per 30 second) $3.30 pm

Call from Aust mobile in Aust
To UK – 36cpm per 30 seconds plus 27c flagfall

Vodafone – UK is Zone 3, standard/preferred

SMS – 75c
Call Received - $1.17 pm
Call to UK number - $1.65/$1.49 (60 second min; 30 second increments)
Call to Aust - $3.35/$3.02 pm
Call to non-UK/Aust - $3.75 pm

Call from Aust mobile in Aust
To UK – mobile or PSTN - $0.176 pm

3 – Like Home UK

SMS – as per plan
Call received – FREE
Call to UK number - 35c per 30 secs, 25c flagfall
Call to Aust – 35c per 30 secs, 25c flagfall
Call to non-UK – (France) – 75c per 30 secs; 25c flagfall

3 Skype – X series
$20 per month – 1000 minutes Skype to Skype

Telstra

SMS - $0.46
Telstra charge to receive - 70 cpm
Incoming call airtime -
Call to UK number - 77 cpm (LP lowest price); 40c flagfall
Call to Aust number - $2.74 pm (LP); 40c flagfall
Call to non-UK - +30% levy by Telstra

Case Study 2 –
Vodafone Australia Customer roaming in NZ

Call NZ number $1.49 pm
Call to Australia $3.02 pm
Receive calls $1.17 pm
Call other than Aust $3.75 pm
SMS 75c

Case Study 3-
Vodafone NZ customer roaming in Australia

Call to NZ – standard home rate ( 79 cpm – You Choose 60 plan)
Call to UK – standard rate plus $2 pm
Call to US, Asia Pac – standard rate plus $3 pm
Call to RoW – standard rate plus $5 pm

Case Study 4
Vodafone UK customer in Australia

Call to UK
Vodafone Passport – 75pence per call then UK usual rate

Other options for travellers

Skype

Connection fee - $.059 (ex VAT)
Charged per minute rounded up to minutes ie 2m 30 sec charged as 3 minutes.

Skype to Skype free
Skype to UK mobile – 32.8cpm
Skype to UK landline – 2.7cpm
Skype to Aust mobile – 26.4cpm
Skype to Aust landline – 2.7cpm

Phonecards

From UK to (0800 number)

Aust Mobile – 28cpm, no flagfall
Aust landline – 8cpm, no flagfall

From Aust to

UK mobile – 24 cpm, no flagfall
UK landline – 1 cpm, no flagfall

Case Study 5
Australian customer roaming in US

Optus – US is Zone 3; 20% discount for Bridge Alliance networks

SMS - $.75
Call received – $1.17 pm
Call to US number (per minute; then per 30 second) $1.50 pm
Call to non-US number (per minute; then per 30 second) $3.30 pm

(Call from Aust mobile in Aust to US –29 cpm per 30 seconds plus 27c flagfall)

Vodafone – US is Zone 2, standard/preferred

SMS – 75c
Call Received – 89cpm
Call to US number - $1.25/$1.13 (60 second min; 30 second increments)
Call to Aust - $2.30/$2.07 pm
Call to non-US/Aust - $2.57 pm

(Call from Aust mobile in Aust to US – mobile or PSTN – 14.3c pm)

3 – US is Zone 3

SMS – 60 cents
Call received – 50 cents per 30 seconds
Call to US number - 65c per 30 secs, 25c flagfall
Call to Aust – $1.50 per 30 secs, 25c flagfall
Call to non-US – $2.00 per 30 secs; 25c flagfall

Telstra - (Cincinnati Bell)

SMS – 55 cents
Telstra charge to receive - 28 cpm
Incoming call airtime - $1.27 pm
Call to US number - $1.27 pm; 40c flagfall
Call to Aust number - $3.08 pm; 40c flagfall
Call to non-US - +30% levy by Telstra

(Calls from CB Wireless to and from international destinations are US $1.99 per minute – calls made AND received)

Domestic Mobile Data charges - AUD

Telstra
Consumer pricing; business plans slightly less expensive

Cheapest - $54.95 per month; 200MB; 30c/MB
Most Expensive - $114.95; 2 GB; 30c/MB

3 (Hutchison)
Cheapest:
• 3 Broadband Zone - $29 per month; 1GB; 10c/MB
• 3 Broadband Zone – National roaming on GPRS - data allowance: 2MB; charges in excess of allowance: $1.65/MB

Most expensive:
• 3 Broadband Zone - $99 per month; 5GB; 10c/MB
• 3 Broadband Zone – National roaming on GPRS – data allowance: 10MB; charges in excess of allowance: $1.65/MB

Optus
Bundled price (with mobile and home phone)

Cheapest - $24.99 per month; 400MB included; 15c/MB
Most expensive - $39.99; 5GB; 15c/MB

Vodafone
Cheapest - $29.95 per month; 100MB data included; 10c/MB
Most expensive - $139.95 per month; 2GB; 10c/MB

Mobile Broadband Roaming charges – AUD
All charges are per MB – there is no ”included data”

Telstra (UK, US, France, Germany, Italy, China)

1 MB - $15 (GST excl) per MB plus $0.50 flagfall
10 MB - $150
100 MB - $1500

3 (Hutchison) – ( UK, US, France, Germany, Italy, China)

1 MB $20
10 MB $200
100 MB $2000

Optus – (UK, US, France, Germany, Italy, China)

1 MB $20
10 MB $200
100 MB $2000

Vodafone – (UK, US, France, Germany, Italy, China)

1 MB - $10
10 MB - $100
100 MB - $1000