moneysupermarket.com comments on 3's decision to abolish roaming charges

Commenting on 3’s decision to abolish international roaming charges, Robert Kenley, head of mobiles at price comparison website moneysupermarket.com, said:
“This is an unprecedented move from a mobile phone provider, and one that is long overdue.

“Roaming charges have been too expensive for too long, particularly the cost for receiving a call when abroad. Some companies such as O2 and T-mobile half-heartedly made an effort to cut prices last year, but this is the first time that a provider has announced plans to charge domestic rates abroad.

“The new ‘3 like home’ plan looks like an especially good deal for those travelling to countries where 3 already operates a local network. Abolishing charges for receiving calls when roaming is the main benefit for 3 customers, followed by the ability to make calls back to the UK for 20p. Calls to the UK can also be used as part of an inclusive minutes contract package so for many 3 customers these calls will also be free. It would be great, however, to see this applied to all countries, not just those where 3 operates.

“We would like to see all extra charges abolished for calls within the European Union, which would mean paying the same for using your mobile regardless of whether you’re in the UK or elsewhere in the EU. In the meantime, consumers should check roaming costs before they head off abroad to avoid a shock when they receive their bill back in the UK.

“There are a number of other ways people can cut roaming costs. For example people who travel abroad frequently should consider purchasing a local country or global SIM card, as this option is consistently cheaper than calling via one of the UK networks.
“An international SIM could bring the cost of making a call from Europe down to just 22p per minute with no charge to receive calls. However, there will be an initial pay-out for the card and a starter pack. For those who use their phone abroad infrequently, it can be more cost-effective and convenient to use their own mobile operator compared with an international or local SIM card.”