Tuesday, 30th June 2009 - 09:55CET

Vodafone cuts EU roaming rates

Vodafone Malta said today it will reduce its voice, SMS and data rates for roaming in EU countries from tomorrow.

The rates structure has also been simplified.

Making a call to any EU destination whilst roaming on any network in the EU will cost €0.50 per minute, charged on a per second basis after the first 30 seconds, the company said. "Having the same rate in any EU country makes it easier and simpler to remember your rate when abroad."

SMS rates have also been reduced by over 60 to €0.13.

Vodafone Pay Monthly customers can benefit from cheaper rates with Vodafone Passport. Customers registering to Vodafone Passport can call back home or the visited country at €0.23 per minute plus a set-up charge per call.

Vodafone said it was also reducing the rates for Data Roaming. Data rates for prepaid customers start at €0.05 per 10Kb whilst rates for Pay Monthly customers start from as little as €0.03 per 10Kb.

Rates for roaming services have been the subject of regulation in the EU after pressure which started in the European Parliament.

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Article © Allied Newspapers Ltd., printed on Saturday, November 21, 2009. This article is for personal use only, and should not be distributed.

Comments

Galea. L (on 1/7/09)

Mark Galea

You are also suffering like the rest of us Mark.
Enjoy the increase in fuel prices from tomorrow Mark.
But don't bet your money on Gonzi staying that long Mark.
This is apart from you having no rebutting arguments Mark.

Anton Restall (on 30/6/09)

Shame they did not follow Vodafone UK and abolish all raoming charges in the EU for July and August.

Mark Galea (on 30/6/09)

@Galea. L
You still have 4 years left to suffer ... and then ... maybe ...

Galea. L (on 30/6/09)

Mario Micallef
Issa anki s-sewwa maghruf trid tmeri sur micallef?
Dan issa meta kollox ghadu frisk, ahseb u ara meta jghaddu s-snin x'tipprova taghmel!!

Mario Micallef (on 30/6/09)

@ Mr Leone Ganado

I tend to think that on the contrary there will be an upward trend in roaming rates in non EU countries...as we have witnessed when they have been reduced first...

@ L Galea

Cheap political advertising...one day you'll say that the PL was the principle party PRO EU!!!

Galea. L (on 30/6/09)

The well done should go to Dr Joseph Muscat who was the principal mover for the rates to be reduced.

albert leone ganado (on 30/6/09)

@J.Oatman Well said.
Can Vodafone tell us whether (of their own initiative i.e. not forced by Brussels) they also intend to reduce the roaming charges from non-EU countries such as North America

J Oatmon (on 30/6/09)

This news item is presented as if Vodaphone reduced their 'rampant and expensive' roaming charges voluntarily - this is not the case, the EU has forced mobile providers to reduce roaming charges. If Malta were not in the EU, the charges would not have been reduced.

I am disaapointed that the Times of Malta failed to mention Vodaphone were anly complying with EU regulations - Vodaphone did not do this out of the kindness of their hearts!

Mario Micallef (on 30/6/09)

Welldone to the EU telecoms commissioner Vivianne Reading and her team for reaching this goal...and for the maltese consumers and big win who were being robbed without scruples when roaming in any EU country...especially when sending text messages...since we are ardent users of sms!