Posted: 02nd Jul, 2009 By: MarkJ
Mobile operator Vodafone UK has revealed a completely new range of tariffs for customer seeking to access their Mobile Broadband connections when outside of the UK. Prices for European data / Internet roaming usage will now start at £4.99 per day for up to 25MB (MegaByte's) and the same again if you want another 25MB. Those using less than 1MB, such as when viewing a 100Kb website, will be charged 50p.
The new tariff is significantly cheaper than Vodafone's previous £4.99 per MB and somewhat cancels the recent claim by Three (3) of offering the lowest mobile data / Internet tariffs for EU roaming (
here). Three (3) had lowered its prices to £1.25 per MB, though Vodafone's new option works out as just 0.20p, provided you need/use all 25MB's.
The prices are in large part thanks to Vodafone's own network reach accross the continent and Europe's new roaming rules (
here), which came into force on 1st July. Sadly for areas outside of the EU, which Vodafone calls Zone 2, that same 25MB will cost you £14.99.
Be aware that Laptop users, in both Zone 1 and 2, will need to take a double sized chunk of MB's (e.g. 50MB) for twice the price. Overall roaming remains generally expensive for the average Joe, although business users will be pleased with the improvements.