Data roaming charges to end in the EU by June 2017

HarryT · 06-30-2015, 05:35 AM

A deal's been agreed which will abolish data roaming charges within the EU by June 2017. This will be a major benefit to people who frequently travel to different countries for work or leisure - currently it's easy to rack up very high data charges (which frequently exceed $1/MB).

More details at:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-33325031

(One reason I chose my current telecoms provider - Vodafone - is that they have extremely reasonable data roaming rates.)

JSWolf · 06-30-2015, 06:15 AM

EE's data roaming rates are also reasonable.

HarryT · 06-30-2015, 08:26 AM

More information now added: from April 2016, data roaming charges will be capped at €0.05/MB, which is much less than most people pay now.

Josieb1 · 06-30-2015, 10:23 AM

O2 charge £1.99 a day with no limits and they don't take your usage off your UK monthly data limit.

HarryT · 06-30-2015, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Josieb1

O2 charge £1.99 a day with no limits and they don't take your usage off your UK monthly data limit.

Yes, people on monthly contracts generally get a good deal. It's "pay as you go" customer who pay through the nose for data roaming, although things have dramatically improved in recent years. With Vodafone I pay £3/day and can then use my usual unlimited calls and texts allowance, and my standard UK data allowance.

frahse · 07-03-2015, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Yes, people on monthly contracts generally get a good deal. It's "pay as you go" customer who pay through the nose for data roaming, although things have dramatically improved in recent years. With Vodafone I pay £3/day and can then use my usual unlimited calls and texts allowance, and my standard UK data allowance.

Are "hybrid" systems combining Cellular with WiFi available in the EU?

For example in the USA we have Republic Wireless and Freedom-pop both of which have done a good job with fairly seamless WiFi to Cellular transitions.

For example, I paid $100 for a refurbished Samsung S3 phone and entered into a basic contract where I get 200 voice minutes and 500 texts, and 500 MB of data for free.
My wife pays about $8 per month for unlimited voice and text and the same 500 MB of data.

We have free WiFi everywhere. The fast food places, the restaurants, the hotels, the hospitals, the doctor's office, etc. so that data is not usually a problem.
If however you are away from a WiFi source, on that basic free plan you are charged $.01/MB after the initial 500 MB.

There are other plans that cost more than the free one that include certain allotments of data.

In my work I used to have an air card for my company computer, but now since I am semi-retired, I just carry a Mobile Hot spot that gives out a WiFi signal for whatever device I wish to use. I use a pay as you go plan without monthly charges normally because usage is intermittent.

HarryT · 07-04-2015, 03:34 AM

How does the provider make money from a free service?

eschwartz · 07-05-2015, 03:37 PM

The way they have it setup, you use WiFi whenever it is available, which means you don't use their data.
Most people probably don't rely on their complimentary data, and actually pay for a plan.
And as per standard service plans, most people are probably paying more than they need to.

Still a good deal on both sides.

glos · 07-06-2015, 02:05 AM

There's almost no public wifi where I live (big cities may have it, but they're still eons behind what is in usa anyway). I pay 10euros for 100minutes, 1GB internet (not 4g), infinite messages and infinite calls to numbers with the same company as me. If I go over the 1gb I get slowed down (a lot! almost unusable) but I don't have to pay more. I never even use more than 300MB because when I'm out I'm usually busy and have no time to even check the phone.
I've never used it outside my country, but I know I have a basic plan that is not very good (and it's forced on you if you don't have other plans):
3E/day for 25MB, you go over and it's 1E/MB (for europe and usa); 5E/day for 5MB (or 2MB depending on the country) for the rest of the world...

MikeB1972 · 07-06-2015, 07:33 AM

EE now do text & voice over WIFI.

http://ee.co.uk/ee-and-me/network/wifi-calling
Although, they still take the calls / texts out of your allowance as normal.

06-30-2015, 05:35 AM	#1
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Data roaming charges to end in the EU by June 2017 A deal's been agreed which will abolish data roaming charges within the EU by June 2017. This will be a major benefit to people who frequently travel to different countries for work or leisure - currently it's easy to rack up very high data charges (which frequently exceed $1/MB). More details at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-33325031 (One reason I chose my current telecoms provider - Vodafone - is that they have extremely reasonable data roaming rates.)

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06-30-2015, 06:15 AM	#2
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,247 Karma: 145488788 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	EE's data roaming rates are also reasonable.

06-30-2015, 08:26 AM	#3
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	More information now added: from April 2016, data roaming charges will be capped at €0.05/MB, which is much less than most people pay now.

06-30-2015, 10:23 AM	#4
Josieb1 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,082 Karma: 18051062 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: UK Device: Kindle Scribe, Coloursoft, PW SE, Kindle 6, Kobo Libra Colour, Libra 2	O2 charge £1.99 a day with no limits and they don't take your usage off your UK monthly data limit.

07-04-2015, 03:34 AM	#7
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	How does the provider make money from a free service?

07-05-2015, 03:37 PM	#8
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,421 Karma: 85400180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	The way they have it setup, you use WiFi whenever it is available, which means you don't use their data. Most people probably don't rely on their complimentary data, and actually pay for a plan. And as per standard service plans, most people are probably paying more than they need to. Still a good deal on both sides.

07-06-2015, 02:05 AM	#9
glos Zealot Posts: 132 Karma: 1070185 Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Italy Device: Kobo Aura HD	There's almost no public wifi where I live (big cities may have it, but they're still eons behind what is in usa anyway). I pay 10euros for 100minutes, 1GB internet (not 4g), infinite messages and infinite calls to numbers with the same company as me. If I go over the 1gb I get slowed down (a lot! almost unusable) but I don't have to pay more. I never even use more than 300MB because when I'm out I'm usually busy and have no time to even check the phone. I've never used it outside my country, but I know I have a basic plan that is not very good (and it's forced on you if you don't have other plans): 3E/day for 25MB, you go over and it's 1E/MB (for europe and usa); 5E/day for 5MB (or 2MB depending on the country) for the rest of the world...

07-06-2015, 07:33 AM	#10
MikeB1972 Gnu Posts: 1,222 Karma: 15625359 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: UK Device: BeBook,JetBook Lite,PRS-300-350-505-650,+ran out of space to type	EE now do text & voice over WIFI. http://ee.co.uk/ee-and-me/network/wifi-calling Although, they still take the calls / texts out of your allowance as normal.

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