Cutting the cost of using your mobile abroad

Research carried out by Oftel shows that many consumers are still unaware of the high cost of international roaming - using your mobile abroad.

Oftel has published the results of research into the prices consumers pay to use their mobiles abroad, as well as consumers' awareness of the service and the costs involved.

The research considered a variety of UK consumers using their phones in the Republic of Ireland. ODTR, Oftel's equivalent in the Republic of Ireland (ROI), published separate results for ROI customers visiting the UK.

Oftel has updated its website guidance to consumers using international roaming with specific examples of the savings that consumers can make, using the Ireland example.

Oftel identified the high cost of international roaming as an area of concern in its September 2001 review of the mobile market. Oftel believes that poor awareness among consumers is causing them to pay higher charges than necessary. For example, nearly half of UK pre-pay mobile phone users were unaware that they can be charged for incoming calls, at up to £1.50 per minute.

But although over 80 per cent of consumers did not believe that using their mobile phone abroad represented value for money, less than half of consumers had tried to cut their mobile bills when abroad.

Although savings depend much on individual usage, Oftel found that large savings are available on international roaming costs, for example:

• consumers can save over 50% by switching from a pre-pay to a contract tariff, and this may cover the extra line rental charge;
• regular travellers using a SIM card for an Irish mobile network could save over 50% if on contract, or 70% if on pre-pay;
• choosing a different Irish network to roam on could cut charges by up to 18%.

Using text messages to replace short calls or using international traveller deals available from UK mobile networks are other ways to cut costs.

Oftel will continue to monitor consumer awareness, to update its advice and to explore ways of informing customers of their options. Oftel will also continue to co-operate with other member states and the European Commission to address problems with the underlying structure of the wholesale international roaming market.

For further information contact Nic Green (tel: 020 7634 8891 / e-mail nic.green@oftel.gov.uk).