14th Mar 2007 12:57
Vodafone Group Plc14 March 2007 14 March 2007 VODAFONE ANNOUNCES NEW FLAT-RATE DATA ROAMING TARIFF Vodafone continues to lead the mobile industry in reducing the cost of roaming in Europe Vodafone announces today that customers in Europe will be able to surf theinternet, check e-mail and access their business network when roaming abroad fora flat rate fee of only €12 for every day of use. The tariff will be availableto Vodafone customers with mobile-enabled laptops from 1 July 2007 and willsignificantly lower the cost of data roaming for business customers andconsumers alike. This move is the latest development in Vodafone's drive to simplify roamingprices, making them more predictable and understandable for customers. Theinitiative draws upon two years' experience of the voice roaming tariff -Vodafone Passport - which has already attracted over 12m customers. Followingthe introduction of daily data tariffs in a number of Vodafone markets lastyear, Vodafone is now seeking to extend these benefits to customers throughoutEurope who wish to use their laptops when travelling. Besides the clear consumer advantages of reducing prices, Vodafone is continuingto invest in its networks to ensure customers also benefit from rapidlyescalating data access speeds. Building on the strong platform of 3G, Vodafonehas recently been rolling out faster technologies, such as HSDPA, which is nowavailable in 11 European markets. Commenting on the new tariff, Arun Sarin, Chief Executive, Vodafone, said: "Following the success of our Passport service, which has made it cheaper andsimpler to call home over the past two years, we are now applying the sameprinciples of value and simplicity for customers who need to access theircorporate intranets, business e-mail or surf the web when they are abroad. "With high speed 3G networks already deployed in many European markets, ongoinginvestment in new technologies to increase download speeds and clear, effectivetariffs, Vodafone should be the network of choice for those seeking to use theirlaptops when travelling." Tariff details The new tariff replaces complex 'per Megabyte' tariffs with a simple flat feefor practically unlimited data usage. The daily tariff enables Vodafonecustomers to send or receive data at ease within a 24 hour period or onecalendar day (depending on the Vodafone market) for a fixed fee of €12(excluding VAT). The fixed fee covers consumption within either a 24 hour periodor a calendar day, up to 50 MB of data, after which the customer's standardper-megabyte rate applies. Vodafone will launch the tariff across the majority of its European footprint,including its principal European markets, on 1 July. It will be introduced intothe remaining European markets soon thereafter. As with Vodafone Passport there is no activation charge for opting into thedaily roaming tariff. The €12 (excluding VAT) flat rate tariff is applicable when a Vodafone customeris roaming on Vodafone subsidiary networks in Europe. Should a customer roamonto another network then standard per megabyte charging will apply. Wholesale data rates Vodafone also announces that from 1 July 2007 it will enter into reciprocalwholesale arrangements with any other European operator or operator Groups at anew lower wholesale rate for data roaming. In doing so, Vodafone is seeking tolower its own costs and increase overall activity in the data roaming marketwithin the European Union. Vodafone expects this initiative to result insignificantly lower data roaming costs for customers of both Vodafone and itscompetitors. The new rates that Vodafone will offer other network operators are as follows: * for small sessions of up to a maximum of 200 Kb of data, the charge will be a maximum of €0.50 * for sessions above 200 Kb, the rate will be €0.50 per Mb. - ends - For further information: Vodafone Group Investor Relations Media Relations Tel: +44 (0) 1635 664447 Tel: +44 (0) 1635 664444 Notes to Editors About Vodafone Vodafone is the world's leading international mobile communications group withoperations in 25 countries across five continents and over 200 millionproportionate customers by the end of January 2007, as well as 36 partnernetworks. For further information, please visit www.vodafone.com This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
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