Vodafone Malta to introduce new euro tariffs

Vodafone Malta will be introducing the new roaming euro tariffs for all its customers from August 30 with the launch of the new Vodafone World roaming tariff plan applicable for calls made and received within the EU countries.

"We have had tariffs reduced since the launch of Travel Promise in July 2005. April also saw the introduction of Vodafone World when we reduced our roaming prices by an average of 40 per cent for all our customers when roaming within the EU," said Inaki Berroeta, chief executive officer of Vodafone Malta.

With the new Vodafone World roaming rate plan, customers will benefit from a rate of Lm0.25c/min, including VAT (€0.58), for all outgoing calls within the EU countries to the visited country, to Malta and other EU countries, like a Vodafone Malta customer in Italy calling Italy, Malta or Spain.

Incoming calls will be charged at Lm 0.12c/min, including VAT (€0.28), for calls received while roaming in the EU. These rates apply for both post-paid and pre-paid customers. There will be no distinction between Vodafone preferred and non-preferred networks while calling within the EU footprint.

Rates for calls to other countries outside Zone 1 and the listed countries and states, like a Vodafone Malta customer in Italy calling Libya will remain unaltered, as will all rates for Zones 2-5 with the current respective rates for post-paid and pre-paid. A list of all these zones and applicable tariffs is available on Vodafone's Website at www.vodafone.com.mt.

As of August 30, the Website will be updated with the new roaming euro rates.

"Vodafone is now offering even cheaper roaming call rates when travelling to any EU country, while adhering to the EU directive published on June 30. We have revised our Vodafone World tariffs launched in March and now we're making sure that our roaming prices offer our customers simplicity and value for money. That's precisely what they get from our new Vodafone World roaming rates," Mr Berroeta said.

Vodafone Malta will also be implementing tariff transparency measures by September 30. An automatic and free of charge Push SMS service will replace the Info Text service introduced by Vodafone on April 1. The Push SMS service will provide customers with information on maximum prices for calls within the visited country and Malta and maximum prices for calls received once customers enter an EU member state.

The Push SMS service will also provide a "freephone number" for customers who wish to request further information on Vodafone Malta's roaming tariffs and services like voice tariffs, SMS, MMS and other data services.

Vodafone Malta will soon communicate the new euro tariff to its entire customer base through adverts, SMS, bill insertions, brochures and media communications.

Vodafone's Travel Promise launched in 2005, will remain Vodafone's main roaming proposition for post-paid customers and will be available to customers roaming in all major EU countries, including other non-EU countries such as Australia and Japan. Customers only pay a connection fee of 50c per call and then pay the same call rate of their chosen domestic tariff plan when calling the visited country or Malta.

When receiving calls while roaming on EU Travel Promise Networks (e.g. Vodafone UK), customers will be charged a fantastic rate of 30c for every 10 minutes, while for non-EU Travel Promise Networks, the rate will be kept at only 50c for every 10 minutes per call. There is no distinction between peak and off-peak rates on Travel Promise, offering the customer a simple and value-driven tariff structure. Customers subscribed to Vodafone's Travel Promise can opt into the euro tariff anytime they want.

Mr Berroeta explained: "Vodafone Malta's customers have been benefiting from reduced roaming prices since 2005 when we introduced Travel Promise, and again from April 1 when we reduced our roaming prices by an average of 40 per cent across the board. Our focus is now on notifying our customers of the introduction of the euro tariff and ensuring a smooth transition this summer. The euro tariff is being introduced for all our customers a month before the regulation deadline of September 30."

For more information, contact Vodafone Customer Service on 247 from a Vodafone or call 9999-9247 from any other line, or visit www.vodafone.com.mt.