Flat rate data for selected overseas countries

Forums › Spark New Zealand (including Skinny and BigPipe) › Flat rate data for selected overseas countries

heavenlywild

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#128739 21-Aug-2013 21:01

Hi guys,

I note that Telecom has added a few more countries to their "flat rate" data pricing plan.

Has anyone had experience using data overseas on Telecom? This "fair usage" term is very gray, and if you do go over, do they start charging you by the MB? Or how would you know?

NonprayingMantis

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#882432 21-Aug-2013 21:14

Went to Ozzie a few weeks ago, used the net, Skype, and google maps quite a lot. Probably 500MB per day average. No problem.

heavenlywild

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#882435 21-Aug-2013 21:17

Cool thanks for that. 500mb is a fair bit. Do you use this amount while in NZ on a daily basis? From their T&Cs they mention it should not be more than what you use back home, etc.

Did you also tether to your laptop?

NonprayingMantis

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#882447 21-Aug-2013 21:43

heavenlywild: Cool thanks for that. 500mb is a fair bit. Do you use this amount while in NZ on a daily basis? From their T&Cs they mention it should not be more than what you use back home, etc.

Did you also tether to your laptop?

Typically get through 2-3GB per month, so 500 MB would be high.

I didn't tether. But I used personal hotspot on my iPhone for my laptop and ipad to connect to the Internet. No point paying for hotel wifi when I had roaming data that was cheaper!

openmedia

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#882768 22-Aug-2013 13:49

I used my phone in OZ a couple of times and average 500MB - 1G a day. I'd average similar numbers when I'm working away from the office and based in Wellington for the day so I'd consider this reasonable.

Generally known online as OpenMedia, now working for Red Hat APAC as a Technology Evangelist and Portfolio Architect. Still playing with MythTV and digital media on the side.

quickymart

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#882987 22-Aug-2013 18:50

I used 100MB in one day while roaming in the United States a few months ago and got a fair usage SMS warning.

freitasm

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#882988 22-Aug-2013 18:53

Spent four days in Sydney with my Telecom SIM a few weeks back. I didn't change anything in my usage - Office 365 Exchange push email, Twitter/Facebook/LinkedIn notifications. Obviously didn't use more than normally do when in Wellington.

It worked pretty well. I guess I could have used maps if needed but seriously, didn't go crazy using my phone as hotspot since there was plenty of network connections at the conference centre and hotel.

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Paulthagerous

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#883008 22-Aug-2013 20:00

heavenlywild: Cool thanks for that. 500mb is a fair bit. Do you use this amount while in NZ on a daily basis? From their T&Cs they mention it should not be more than what you use back home, etc.

Did you also tether to your laptop?

From the website:

Fair Use Policy applies. Telecom's Fair Use Policy is about making sure that everyone is getting great value from us while roaming. So in our roaming destinations with daily data prices, we keep an eye on how much data you use each day and compare this to ordinary personal or business data usage and the way you use your mobile when travelling back in New Zealand. If you use significantly more data while roaming than you do at home, you may be in breach of this policy. If this is the case, we will alert you, and if you breach the policy again, we reserve the right to suspend your account. Roaming data is not intended or designed for prolonged intensive data downloads or uploads (including tethering, file sharing and long duration streaming videos).

As mentioned above, if you exceed it you will in the first instance get a text message warning you. So you won't get charged per MB without a warning.

Also, note it says 'significantly more' than your usage at home. There is an allowance built in for using things like maps that you may not use day to day. Using it as a full replacement for your ADSL connection at home is likely to get you in trouble pretty quickly though.

quickymart

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#883448 23-Aug-2013 15:21

Paulthagerous: From the website:

Fair Use Policy applies. Telecom's Fair Use Policy is about making sure that everyone is getting great value from us while roaming. So in our roaming destinations with daily data prices, we keep an eye on how much data you use each day and compare this to ordinary personal or business data usage and the way you use your mobile when travelling back in New Zealand. If you use significantly more data while roaming than you do at home, you may be in breach of this policy. If this is the case, we will alert you, and if you breach the policy again, we reserve the right to suspend your account. Roaming data is not intended or designed for prolonged intensive data downloads or uploads (including tethering, file sharing and long duration streaming videos).

As mentioned above, if you exceed it you will in the first instance get a text message warning you. So you won't get charged per MB without a warning.

Also, note it says 'significantly more' than your usage at home. There is an allowance built in for using things like maps that you may not use day to day. Using it as a full replacement for your ADSL connection at home is likely to get you in trouble pretty quickly though.

I think that's what caught me out - I don't use my T-Stick much except in emergencies. But where I was there wasn't any internet connection, so I was using it a bit more than usual.

heavenlywild

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#883450 23-Aug-2013 15:24

Thanks for your response guys. So really, might as well max out my data in the months before my trip to get the most out of it :)