$1000 for 1Gigabyte of roamed data ?!?!?!

Forums › One New Zealand (including Vodafone, WxC, Farmside) › $1000 for 1Gigabyte of roamed data ?!?!?!

Mark

1653 posts

Uber Geek

#85077 13-Jun-2011 14:19

I just got a txt from Vodafone telling me that Australian data roaming rates are now just $1 per MB ..... and that's a good thing ?!?!?!?!

FFS what is it with the gouging ?

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335 posts

Ultimate Geek

#480640 13-Jun-2011 14:33

$1/mb is expensive, but it's still the cheapest data roaming price from any NZ provider.

PaulBrislen

198 posts

Master Geek

Trusted

#480641 13-Jun-2011 14:38

I paid around $1800 for 49MB of data in Australia... would have been cheaper to fly home each night.

Prices have dropped hugely from the nonsense that was $30/MB, but they still have a long way to go.

In NZ I pay $20/GB with 2degrees. No reason why I should pay $2500/GB in Sydney for the same thing.

valtam

396 posts

Ultimate Geek

#480644 13-Jun-2011 14:55

PaulBrislen:
Prices have dropped hugely from the nonsense that was $30/MB, but they still have a long way to go.

Hi Paul, what factors will influence the future dropping in price here?

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PaulBrislen

198 posts

Master Geek

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#480645 13-Jun-2011 15:03

Mostly it's up to us, we the customer.

If we let them off the hook by putting up with either the outrageous charges OR simply swapping to a local SIM when we arrive (and I know, it's much cheaper but it's a hassle, particularly when it resets all your settings) then they win.

Instead, switch to Wifi and don't forget to tell them. Telcos are coin-operated creatures - so hit them where it hurts.

Also, the MED is in the midst of a review in conjunction with its Aussie counterpart to try to work out some kind of regulatory solution. This is being watched by regulators overseas, so it's good to support them as/when we can.

The problem is two-fold - when travelling you're on another network entirely, and there isn't a trans-national regulator for these kinds of things.

Let's say the three NZ mobile network operators decide to drop the rate for incoming visitors, in the hopes that this will encourage more use. Let's say they drop the rate from $1/MB to 1c/MB (because it's a nice round number). There's absolutely nothing they can do if the inbound customer's telco doesn't pass that on to the customer.

It works the other way too - we don't know what Telekom Uzbekistan charges 2degrees (for example) so it's difficult to make the call as to who is responsible for the retail price you pay.

The lack of an international regulatory body is cited on the ZDNet UK microsite about roaming rates - a US exec told the reporter that rates would never come down because there's no regulator to force them.

That just leaves we customers so make sure you're vocal about the problems. Write letters, call, tell them it's a priority. Make damn sure they know you're giving your money to another telco because of the pricing.

Cheers

Paul

dickytim

2514 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#480651 13-Jun-2011 15:18

I use Aussie prepaid sim cards, or my work phone :P

Or I switch off data roaming and use internet in my hotel room etc.

openmedia

3328 posts

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Trusted

#480661 13-Jun-2011 15:43

PaulBrislen: Mostly it's up to us, we the customer.

If we let them off the hook by putting up with either the outrageous charges OR simply swapping to a local SIM when we arrive (and I know, it's much cheaper but it's a hassle, particularly when it resets all your settings) then they win.

Off to Brisbane next week for a couple of days so time to charge up the plan-b phone.

My 2degree's sim will be used in an old Nokia handset for any roaming calls, and I'll put AU$ 19 on my Virgin AU Prepay for 1GB local data and about AU$50 in local calls. Should be enough for 3 days business use, and a lot cheaper than hotel wifi and data roaming.

Just need to find the best deal for my Singapore trip next month.

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.

dickytim

2514 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#480662 13-Jun-2011 15:44

openmedia:
PaulBrislen: Mostly it's up to us, we the customer.

If we let them off the hook by putting up with either the outrageous charges OR simply swapping to a local SIM when we arrive (and I know, it's much cheaper but it's a hassle, particularly when it resets all your settings) then they win.

Off to Brisbane next week for a couple of days so time to charge up the plan-b phone.

My 2degree's sim will be used in an old Nokia handset for any roaming calls, and I'll put AU$ 19 on my Virgin AU Prepay for 1GB local data and about AU$50 in local calls. Should be enough for 3 days business use, and a lot cheaper than hotel wifi and data roaming.

Just need to find the best deal for my Singapore trip next month.

probably you Aussie prepaid!

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oxnsox

1923 posts

Uber Geek

#480675 13-Jun-2011 16:16

PaulBrislen: Mostly it's up to us, we the customer.

If we let them off the hook by putting up with either the outrageous charges OR simply swapping to a local SIM when we arrive (and I know, it's much cheaper but it's a hassle, particularly when it resets all your settings) then they win.

Instead, switch to Wifi and don't forget to tell them. Telcos are coin-operated creatures - so hit them where it hurts.
... (edit)....

How is this a win? My telco losses out because I put the coins in another telcos slot.... I'd think my telco would feel that.

PaulBrislen

198 posts

Master Geek

Trusted

#480677 13-Jun-2011 16:26

I was thinking in particular of a certain large red organisation with networks around the world... or similarly integrated telcos.

In particular the individual telcos who sign up to hubs rather than negotiating agreements bilaterally will also not be too upset by SIM swapping as they are recipients of the same when travellers arrive in NZ.

jbard

1377 posts

Uber Geek

#480679 13-Jun-2011 16:43

I have always wondered why Vodafone don't have some sort of worldwide agreement so you could roam cheaply on any Vodafone network worldwide - they are the only company in a position to offer such a deal.

Their are a whole lot of travelers out their using more and more data, surely this would be a win win for Vodafone international?

sbiddle

30853 posts

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Biddle Corp

Lifetime subscriber

#480680 13-Jun-2011 16:43

$1 per MB is actually a very good price for roaming.

As a benchmark the EU mandated reductions take effect yearly and from 1st July wholesale roaming rates will drop to ?0.50 per MB, down from ?0.80 per MB.

One thing that has to be factored in is the cost of data transit back to NZ. It would be interesting to know what it actually costs somebody like Vodafone NZ (who has many bilateral agreements rather than a roaming hub) to operate the infrastructure for roaming on monthly basis. I'm picking they'll be paying in the hundreds of thousands every month, before a single customer actually incurs costs roaming.

PaulBrislen

198 posts

Master Geek

Trusted

#480685 13-Jun-2011 17:08

Can you imagine the outcry if Vodafone were to offer flat rates worldwide? Nobody else could do it, there would be calls to regulate and/or break up the big red company...

what is needed is for the regulatory regimes to catch up with the new way of doing business but also for the new businesses to help/enable intra-jurisdictional regulatory regimes to get off the ground.

Richard2011

60 posts

Master Geek
Inactive user

#480692 13-Jun-2011 17:34

PaulBrislen:
If we let them off the hook by putting up with either the outrageous charges OR simply swapping to a local SIM when we arrive (and I know, it's much cheaper but it's a hassle, particularly when it resets all your settings) then they win.

Paul

I was recently in the UK on the 3 Network there - I paid $10UK for 3,000TXT, 100mins to any network & got 512MB of Data.

When the SIM was inserted into my Smartphone, I didn't need to change any settings & on my return to New Zealand, I inserted my Vodafone SIM, without needing to change any settings.

kirjava

69 posts

Master Geek

#480701 13-Jun-2011 18:28

Mark: I just got a txt from Vodafone telling me that Australian data roaming rates are now just $1 per MB ..... and that's a good thing ?!?!?!?!

FFS what is it with the gouging ?

I can remember when local data was $20 per mb on prepaid and I thought I was getting "value for money" with 3MB for $10 per month when I switched to an account - you could do a lot of IRC with 3MB of data. Oh how times have changed...

portege

188 posts

Master Geek

#480766 13-Jun-2011 21:41

Bargain, here in the UK my roaming charges within the EU costs £3 ($6) per MB or if I roam back to New Zealand, it's charged at £6 ($12) per MB.

http://www.o2international.co.uk/usingdataabroad/PayMonthly.aspx

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