We have championed Vodafone Data Traveller for a long while now as being a fantastic tool for people needing to get online in Europe. However, things are changing with new EU regulations coming into play which is shaking up the whole market and the tariffs are not looking attractive for the long term pan-European traveller.
** This article was researched and posted on 14th June 2012 at 20:00. Check with your operator for the latest information. E&OE **
As part of the EU's changes to the way mobile telecom companies charge each other (referred to as the wholesale price) we are starting to see some changes in the roaming data and call packages being offered by telecom companies.
We can thank the EU for this, under the "Regulation (EC) No 717/2007 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 June 2007 on roaming of public mobile telephone networks within the Community and amending Directive 2002/21/EC" (more information, see Wikipedia)
The EU is basically dictating to mobile phone networks:
a.) What operators can charge each other for their customers to use other companies networks.
b.) What operators can charge their own customers for this service.
That isn't to say that either the wholesale price or the price charged to consumers isn't less than this, it is just the maximum that can be charged to you.
On the 1st of July these are the maximum call charges that an operator can charge you:
Calls made - was 35c now max 29c per minute (falling each year until they reach 19c in July 2014)
Calls received - was 11c now max 8c per minute (falling each year until they reach 5c per in July 2014)
With regards to DATA used abroad, there were previously no EU limits but these come into force on the 1st July 2012 so companies are now starting to change their price plans to show this.
Data per MB consumed - now a maximum of 70c per MB falling to 20c per MB consumer price in July 2014. Interestingly the wholesale cost has been inforced at 25c per MB falling to 5c per MB in July 2014.
How have the networks reacted?
Pay Monthly Customers - £3/day to use your UK allowance abroad:
DATA TRAVELLER FOR CONTRACT CUSTOMERS HAS BEEN SUSPENDED.
The previously excellent tariff that we championed has been removed by Vodafone and now Data Traveller for contract customers only refers to an OUTSIDE OF EUROPE tariff for £5/DAY for 25MB.
The Data Traveller and Vodafone Passport have been replaced by the EuroTraveller for £3/day
Vodafone states that this includes:
Links:
Pay As You Go - Data Traveller (£2/day for 25MB)
Pay As You Go - Passport (75p connection charge + inclusive minutes)
Mobile Broadband Customers - £8 per 100MB of data used.
Roaming charges for customers with data contracts, iPad SIM cards or USB dongles is now £8 per 100MB used.
Links:
Vodafone Mobile Broadband Roaming (£8 for 100MB)
O2
O2 Pay Monthly Customers - £1.99/day for 25MB + 50p for calls
The old WEB DAILY EUROPE of £1.50 for 15MB or £15 for 15/MB a day Has Been Suspended from 1st July
You'll be charged £1.99 for the days that you use data in Europe - and you can use up to 25MB a day.
There's a connection charge of 50p for all calls made and received in Europe. When you make a call you'll be using your UK minutes and calls received are free up to 60 minutes.
Out of bundle charges are:
Calls back to the UK and within Europe - 35p per minute.
Receiving calls in Europe - 11p per minute.
Texts sent to the UK and Europe - 10p (free to receive).
Sending a media message - 25p.
Data is £3.07 / MB - This is well over the 70c (56p) per MB, so may well be revised.
Links:
O2 Travel - £1.99 per day for 25MB
O2 Pay As You Go Customers - No bundles
No bundled deals available, standard charges apply:
Links:
O2 PAYG Standard Roaming Charges
O2 Mobile Broadband Customers:
Your allowance applies for use in the UK only and we do not recommend that you use mobile broadband abroad to avoid high charges. Data used outside of this allowance will be charged at £3.07/MB in the EU or £6/MB outside of the EU.
O2 actually state on their website: "We do not recommend using mobile broadband outside of the UK and you are therefore currently unable to use the service abroad"
Links:
Mobile Broadband Pay Monthly (Not recommended by O2 for use abroad)
Mobile Broadband Pay As You Go (Not recommended by O2 for use abroad)
Three
Three Pay Monthly Customers - £5/day for Unlimited Usage
If you’re roaming in the EU, the Euro Internet Pass gives you the freedom to browse the mobile internet for £5 a day. You can search, tweet, use Facebook and check your emails as much as you like until midnight (UK time). So you’ll never have to worry about nasty surprise bills when you get home.
The Euro Internet Pass was designed for browsing, so streaming video and audio content may not be as good as it is on our UK network and tethering isn’t included. You also won’t be able to use UK Add-ons (e.g. Add Tethering) while your Euro Internet Pass is active.
Links:
Euro Internet Pass Press Release
Euro Internet Pass - £5/day for unlimited data usage
Three Pay As You Go Customers - £1.28/MB, no roaming package
Three Mobile Broadband Customers - £1.28/MB, no roaming package
Orange
Safe to say Orange DO NOT want you to use your mobile data abroad. We're recommend you look elsewhere for roaming deals.
£3/day for 30MB
£15/mth for 30MB Bundle
£50/mth for a 150MB Bundle
£150/mth for a 500MB Bundle
More information here: http://www.orange.co.uk/roaming/
T-Mobile
** This article was researched and posted on 14th June 2012 at 20:00. Check with your operator for the latest information. E&OE **
As part of the EU's changes to the way mobile telecom companies charge each other (referred to as the wholesale price) we are starting to see some changes in the roaming data and call packages being offered by telecom companies.
We can thank the EU for this, under the "Regulation (EC) No 717/2007 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 June 2007 on roaming of public mobile telephone networks within the Community and amending Directive 2002/21/EC" (more information, see Wikipedia)
The EU is basically dictating to mobile phone networks:
a.) What operators can charge each other for their customers to use other companies networks.
b.) What operators can charge their own customers for this service.
That isn't to say that either the wholesale price or the price charged to consumers isn't less than this, it is just the maximum that can be charged to you.
On the 1st of July these are the maximum call charges that an operator can charge you:
Calls made - was 35c now max 29c per minute (falling each year until they reach 19c in July 2014)
Calls received - was 11c now max 8c per minute (falling each year until they reach 5c per in July 2014)
With regards to DATA used abroad, there were previously no EU limits but these come into force on the 1st July 2012 so companies are now starting to change their price plans to show this.
Data per MB consumed - now a maximum of 70c per MB falling to 20c per MB consumer price in July 2014. Interestingly the wholesale cost has been inforced at 25c per MB falling to 5c per MB in July 2014.
How have the networks reacted?
Vodafone
Pay Monthly Customers - £3/day to use your UK allowance abroad:
DATA TRAVELLER FOR CONTRACT CUSTOMERS HAS BEEN SUSPENDED.
The previously excellent tariff that we championed has been removed by Vodafone and now Data Traveller for contract customers only refers to an OUTSIDE OF EUROPE tariff for £5/DAY for 25MB.
The Data Traveller and Vodafone Passport have been replaced by the EuroTraveller for £3/day
Vodafone states that this includes:
- Use of your minutes, texts and mobile internet with the same freedom as in the UK (excludes extras)
- You'll only be charged on the days you use your phone
- No charge for receiving calls and texts
- No monthly commitment - opt in and out whenever you like
- Check your remaining allowance just like at home - with My account or the My Vodafone app
So, if you want to get online, make phone calls or use your phone in any way you'll be charged of £3 irrespective of how you use your phone, even for just one text message so be careful how you use it.
IMPORTANT! By opting in to Vodafone EuroTraveller you'll also be opting out of the European 50 euro monthly mobile internet spend cap.
IMPORTANT! By opting in to Vodafone EuroTraveller you'll also be opting out of the European 50 euro monthly mobile internet spend cap.
Links:
The new Data Traveller (£5/day for 25MB for outside of Europe)
Pay As You Go Customers - £2/day for 25MB of Data / 75p for Calls
Data Traveller does still exist for PAYG customers in the same format, just to further add to the confusion. You are charged £2/day for upto 25MB in Europe and 75p per connection of a call, subject to your UK inclusive allowance.Pay As You Go Customers - £2/day for 25MB of Data / 75p for Calls
Links:
Pay As You Go - Data Traveller (£2/day for 25MB)
Pay As You Go - Passport (75p connection charge + inclusive minutes)
Mobile Broadband Customers - £8 per 100MB of data used.
Roaming charges for customers with data contracts, iPad SIM cards or USB dongles is now £8 per 100MB used.
Links:
Vodafone Mobile Broadband Roaming (£8 for 100MB)
O2
O2 Pay Monthly Customers - £1.99/day for 25MB + 50p for calls
The old WEB DAILY EUROPE of £1.50 for 15MB or £15 for 15/MB a day Has Been Suspended from 1st July
You'll be charged £1.99 for the days that you use data in Europe - and you can use up to 25MB a day.
There's a connection charge of 50p for all calls made and received in Europe. When you make a call you'll be using your UK minutes and calls received are free up to 60 minutes.
Out of bundle charges are:
Calls back to the UK and within Europe - 35p per minute.
Receiving calls in Europe - 11p per minute.
Texts sent to the UK and Europe - 10p (free to receive).
Sending a media message - 25p.
Data is £3.07 / MB - This is well over the 70c (56p) per MB, so may well be revised.
Links:
O2 Travel - £1.99 per day for 25MB
O2 Pay As You Go Customers - No bundles
No bundled deals available, standard charges apply:
Links:
O2 PAYG Standard Roaming Charges
O2 Mobile Broadband Customers:
Your allowance applies for use in the UK only and we do not recommend that you use mobile broadband abroad to avoid high charges. Data used outside of this allowance will be charged at £3.07/MB in the EU or £6/MB outside of the EU.
O2 actually state on their website: "We do not recommend using mobile broadband outside of the UK and you are therefore currently unable to use the service abroad"
Links:
Mobile Broadband Pay Monthly (Not recommended by O2 for use abroad)
Mobile Broadband Pay As You Go (Not recommended by O2 for use abroad)
Three
Three Pay Monthly Customers - £5/day for Unlimited Usage
If you’re roaming in the EU, the Euro Internet Pass gives you the freedom to browse the mobile internet for £5 a day. You can search, tweet, use Facebook and check your emails as much as you like until midnight (UK time). So you’ll never have to worry about nasty surprise bills when you get home.
The Euro Internet Pass was designed for browsing, so streaming video and audio content may not be as good as it is on our UK network and tethering isn’t included. You also won’t be able to use UK Add-ons (e.g. Add Tethering) while your Euro Internet Pass is active.
Links:
Euro Internet Pass Press Release
Euro Internet Pass - £5/day for unlimited data usage
Three Pay As You Go Customers - £1.28/MB, no roaming package
Three Mobile Broadband Customers - £1.28/MB, no roaming package
Orange
£3/day for 30MB
£15/mth for 30MB Bundle
£50/mth for a 150MB Bundle
£150/mth for a 500MB Bundle
More information here: http://www.orange.co.uk/roaming/
T-Mobile
T-Mobile have made things fairly straight forward.
For phone customers (PAYG or Contract) you pay:
£1 for 3MB
£2.50 for 10MB
£10 for 50MB
For mobile broadband customers:
£1 for 3MB
£5 for 20MB
£10 for 50MB
£35 for 200MB
All "boosters" are valid for 30 days from activation.
For more information see here:
Guys,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the work you put in on this! We have been vodafone users on the passport package for a long time now and with this change it will mean goodbye to them. This is a very cynical response to the EU roaming charge agenda.
Barry
aka Musicbus
I only joined Vodafone for the £10/month 25MB daily data traveller package. Now I am stuck with a £10.50/ month 12 month contract. In Europe I will be charged £3/day = 3 x 30 = £90/month if I use the phone every day - which I do for weather updates and news.
ReplyDeleteSo much for EU trying to reduce costs of data roaming.
What do we do now?
Thanks for this, guys.
ReplyDeleteCalled 02 today and asked about roaming, as we're off to Netherlands/Germany next week for a couple of weeks. I can only use the new £1.99 per day offer from 1st July, which is fair enough.
But for the first week of our holiday, I'll have to pay per MB because they're not accepting new sign-ups to the old Web Daily Europe as it's being phased out. Bonkers.
Hi thanks for this. I just phoned Vodafone and was told that if you are on Vodafone Passport it is still staying or you can transfer to the new Euro Traveller if you want. I am not sure if I believe her though so it might be worth doing some extra checking. Maybe they have cut out the data aspect of the VP because the call stuff sounded like normal. I remain confused as ever.
ReplyDeleteHi Alan, passport is just the ability to make a 59 minute for a 75p connection charge (plus your standard UK minutes) or to receive a 59 minute call for 75p charge. To receive calls your better with a 0044.co.uk Sim Card (free to receive, O2 UK mobile number from the UK).
DeleteUnfortunately Passport has nothing to do with data (named Data Traveller) which is where the biggest changes (for us) are.
Data Traveller still remains for Pay As You Go customers (£2 a day for 25MB) but for contract customers Data Traveller now refers to a £5 a day for 25MB service for non-european travel.
The only EU data tariff for contract customers falls into the Euro Traveller @ £3/day.
Vodafone Euro Traveller works out incredibly expensive if you are mainly a data user with varied roamed call use.
ReplyDeleteData Traveller cost only 10 pounds a month for 25mb a day. In my case calls varied but in total monthly bill if I was roaming for a month was never as high as what it would cost with Euro Traveller - around 90 pounds!
As Vodafone removed the old services without giving the option to keep them, many customers and I are fighting to be released from our contracts as they are now pretty much useless when abroad and we chose Vodafone due to these services being available. Vodafone, however, are not allowing this and so complaints have been lodged with Ofcom, the Ombudsman and BBC Watchdog.
You can see the discontent here:
http://forum.vodafone.co.uk/t5/Pay-Monthly-Services/Eurotraveller-questions/td-p/1150087
I urge all of you who are unhappy not to just sit back and take this kind of treatment. The more Vodafone see that people are upset and their reputation going down the drain, the more they are likely to worry and listen!
Having read this article I am still not sure what the best method of accessing the internet while traveling avroad is.
ReplyDeleteThere isn't a lot of choice at the moment. It's £2, £3 or £5 a day depending on the network or option selected - all too expensive for long term travellers. This has massively increased our dependence on WiFi.
DeleteOK thanks, I wait with anticipation for the new devices at your:
Deletehttp://www.motorhomewifi.com/home/
nice information
ReplyDelete