1. What is international roaming?
International roaming is a paid service, provided by your mobile telephone operator; it means you can use your mobile device abroad to:
- make and receive voice calls;
- send and receive text (SMS) and multimedia (MMS) messages;
- use the Internet;
- access your voice mail;
- access other features associated with the mobile service.
The prices of communications made or received when using roaming are usually higher than in the national territory, because your national operator has to pay a charge to the foreign operator for the use of their network.
However, there has been a downward trend in prices of communications in roaming, especially in the European Union (EU), as a result of European laws. And with the entry into force of Regulation III on international roaming, applicable to European Economic Area countries (EEA), further declines are to be implemented in price caps for voice communications and for sending SMS from 1 July 2012; simultaneously, maximum prices are established for the data service for the first time.
2. What do I need to do before travelling?
Before travelling, you should contact your operator and check:
- whether your contract allows you to use the roaming service in the country you are visiting, i.e. whether you will be able to use your mobile phone or access the Internet from your laptop when abroad;
- whether you will have to change your handset (depending on the country you are travelling to, you might need a dual-band or tri-band device);
- the prices charged for voice calls, SMS, MMS, Internet access, use of voice mail, etc. when using the roaming service;
- which network you should select in the country you are visiting, in order to reduce costs;
- whether you should enable or disable services such as call forwarding, voice mail, etc., and how to do this;
- whether the "consumption limit" has been activated for the Internet access service in roaming and, if so, what the applicable limits are.
3. What information do I need before using my phone abroad (in roaming)?
If you want to use your phone abroad, before you travel, you should find out about:
- how to contact your operator's customer services from abroad and the price of using this service;
- whether you will need to select the network operator that offers the best conditions abroad and, if so, how;
- how to access your voice mail using roaming (the access code may be different) and how much accessing your voice mail costs;
- how calls made in roaming are paid for and, if you have a prepaid card, how to top up your balance while abroad;
- the codes that need to be dialled to make calls and send messages;
- the type of electrical current in the country you are visiting and whether you will need an adapter to charge your phone battery.
Before travelling, check with your operator:
- if the country you are visiting has a GSM, GPRS, 3rd or 4th generation network;
- whether your operator has roaming agreements with a mobile telephone service provider in the country;
- whether roaming is automatically available in the country you are visiting or if you need to activate it.
If you find that you do not have access to roaming you can look at alternatives such as buying a prepaid card or acquiring a mobile phone in the country you are visiting or using phone boxes. To access the Internet, you can also use public network access points such as Wi-Fi hot spots or services available in hotels and cafes.
4. How can I get international roaming?
Before travelling, contact your operator to find out how to enable roaming and check what tariff will apply.
5. Can prices charged for roaming vary depending on the operator I select in the country I'm visiting?
Yes. Before travelling, ask your operator which mobile operator offers the best conditions in the country you are travelling to.
6. Are there any situations where I will not have access to the mobile telephone service or to some of its features with the international roaming service?
Before travelling, ask your home operator if roaming is automatically available in the country you are visiting or if it needs to be activated first. Also check with your operator about the type of network coverage - GSM, GPRS, 3rd or 4th generation - and whether your operator has roaming agreements with any of the country's local mobile operators.
7. How can I get information on the prices charged for roaming communications?
To obtain information on these prices, contact your operator before you travel. In any case, once you have arrived in the country you are visiting, within or outside the European Economic Area (EEA), you will receive a free message from your operator, with basic information on the prices charged.
If you are travelling to a country in the EEA, you will also receive a message giving a freephone number which you can call to get detailed information on the prices of SMS, MMS, voice calls and other data communications.
8. What can I do to reduce the costs of using roaming?
When travelling to another country, using your mobile phone may be quite a bit more expensive because of international roaming. However, there are a number of things you can do to reduce the costs of your communications.
Before you travel, ask your mobile operator which operator in the country you are visiting has the cheapest tariff for the type of communications you are going to make (voice calls, SMS, MMS, Internet access, etc.) and which operator or operators have roaming agreements with your own home operator.
Since 1 July 2012, new reductions have been seen in the price limits applicable to voice and SMS roaming communications, and for the first time, caps have been imposed on data services in countries of the European Economic Area (EEA).
It is also important to check your available balance regularly, to keep track of your consumption. You should also be careful how you use your voice mail and be aware of the costs involved.
In the case of Internet access, if you choose to use the mobile service in roaming, ask your operator for information on any measures (such as consumption limits) which you can help you avoid excessively high bills.
Since 1 July 2010, operators have been required to make a free and automatic application available for communications in roaming in the EEA; you can use this application to get information on your cumulative data consumption in roaming and ensure that provision of the service is halted and no further charges made as soon as a given pre-established consumption threshold has been reached. For more details, contact your operator before travelling.
Outside the EEA, this "consumption limit" feature may not be available if the local operator in the country you are visiting does not allow your home operator to monitor levels of Internet consumption in real time. In this case, customers must be notified by SMS when entering that country, without delay and without charge, that information on accumulated consumption is not available and that there is no guarantee that the financial limit will not be exceeded.
If you travel frequently and want to make voice calls, send SMS or transfer data (MMS, Internet access), it may be in your interest to purchase a SIM card in the country you are visiting. However, with this option, people who contact you will have to pay the price of international communications (e.g. voice calls, SMS and MMS). In this case, and to be able to use the SIM card of a foreign operator in your mobile device, contact your home operator before travelling to check if you need to unlock your phone, as this can sometimes take several days.
For voice calls, you could also use public telephone boxes as an alternative to roaming, or purchase pre-paid phone cards in the country you are visiting.
To access the Internet service, you can always use Wi-Fi hot-spots or fixed accesses to the Internet.
9. Is the roaming service in Europe subject to any special rules?
There is a set of specific rules governing the roaming service in the European Economic Area (EEA) - stipulated in Regulation (EU) No 531/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council, of 13 June 2012. These rules limit the prices that operators can charge roaming customers and ensure that information provided about roaming tariffs is clearer and more transparent.
Although operators may have different tariffs for roaming for communications in the EEA, they are required, at a minimum, to provide the following tariffs, capped by the maximum limits established in Regulation III on roaming International:
- Voice-Eurotariff: for making and receiving calls via the mobile telephone service in roaming.
- SMS-Eurotariff: for sending SMS messages using the mobile telephone service in roaming (no charge is made for receiving SMS messages).
- Data-Eurotariff: for using the mobile Internet service in roaming with mobile devices such as a mobile phone or computer.
Consult European Union Law legislationhttp://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?categoryId=276931 on international roaming.
10. When arriving in a country in the European Economic Area (EEA), how can I get information about prices for roaming communications (voice calls, SMS, MMS, Internet access, etc.)?
When arriving in an European Economic Area (EEA) country, you should receive a message from your operator with indication of:
- the prices charged for communications in these countries;
- a freephone number which you can call to obtain detailed information on the prices of SMS, MMS, voice and other data communications.
To find out more about roaming tariffs, operators can be contacted using the contacts given in the answer to question ''How can I get more information about the roaming service?http://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?contentId=922239''.
11. When arriving in a country outside Europe, how can I get information about the prices charged for roaming communications (voice calls, SMS, MMS, Internet access, etc.)?
When arriving in the country you are visiting (inside or outside the European Economic Area - EEA), you will receive free messages from your operator, with basic information about the prices charged.
12. When in a foreign country, can I choose the operator to provide the roaming service?
Before travelling, check with your operator about how to select the operator which has the best conditions in the country you are visiting.
13. What is the Eurotariff?
The Eurotariff represents the maximum price for roaming communications in the countries of the European Economic Area (EEA), for calls made and received, sending SMS and data transfer; these tariff are known as the Voice-Eurotariff, SMS-Eurotariff and Data-Eurotariff respectively. These tariffs apply, by default, to all users of roaming services, unless users have contracted other roaming services with the operator with more favourable terms.
14. What is the maximum price that my operator may charge for roaming communications (Eurotariff)?
The price you will be charged when using your phone (to make or receive calls, send SMS and access the Internet or send/receive MMS messages) or accessing the Internet on your laptop computer in roaming may vary depending on your tariff, agreements your home operator has with foreign operators and on which country you are visiting. Before travelling, always ask your operator which tariff will be charged and how the service will be billed.
The cost of roaming communications (voice calls, SMS and data transfer) between European Economic Area (EEA) countries are subject to certain maximum limits with the Voice-Eurotariff, SMS-Eurotariff and/or Data-Eurotariff.
This does not prevent providers from charging other tariffs for roaming communications. In cases where customers do not opt for a specific tariff for roaming services, they will charged the Eurotariff (voice, SMS and data) by default. Users are able to subscribe to or leave any of these Eurotariffs whenever they want and without charge.
The operator has to enable or disable the Eurotariff within 1 business day of receiving the customer's request. This period may be extended if the previous tariff is subject to a loyalty period. Whatever the loyalty period, activation of the Eurotariff may not be postponed for more than two months.
Voice-Eurotariff
|
Voice-Eurotariff
|
Maximum price/minute (excluding VAT)
From 1 July 2012
|
Maximum price/minute (excluding VAT)
From 1 July 2013
|
Maximum price/minute (excluding VAT)
From 1 July 2014
to 30 June 2017
|
|
Calls made
|
0.29 euros
|
0.24 euros
|
0.19 euros
|
|
Calls received
|
0.08 euros
|
0.07 euros
|
0.05 euros
|
|
Messages received in voice mail
|
Free
|
Free
|
Free
|
|
To listen to voice mail messages
|
Check with
your operator
|
Check with
your operator
|
Check with
your operator
|
SMS-Eurotariff
SMS-Eurotariff
|
Maximum price/unit
(excluding VAT)
From 1 July 2012
|
Maximum price/unit
(excluding VAT)
From 1 July 2013
|
Maximum price/unit
(excluding VAT)
From 1 July 2014
to 30 June 2017
|
|
SMS sent
|
0.09 euros
|
0.08 euros
|
0.06 euros
|
|
SMS received
|
Free
|
Free
|
Free
|
Data-Eurotariff
|
Data-Eurotariff
|
Maximum price/megabyte
(excluding VAT)
From 1 July 2012
|
Maximum price/megabyte
(excluding VAT)
From 1 July 2013
|
Maximum price/megabyte
(excluding VAT)
From 1 July 2014
until 30 June 2017
|
|
Data volume
|
0.70 euros
|
0.45 euros
|
0.20 euros
|
In any case, when arriving in an EEA country, you should receive a message from your operator with the prices that will apply when roaming.
Roaming tariffs in other countries vary by country and operator. Always check with your operator before you travel. In general, operators have details of their roaming tariffs on their websites. In any case, when arriving in an EEA country, you should receive a message from your operator with the prices that will apply when roaming.
15. Are there different tariffs for roaming communications in the EEA, other than the voice-Eurotariff, SMS-Eurotariff and data-Eurotariff?
In addition to the voice-Eurotariff, mobile operators may offer other tariffs for voice calls in roaming between countries of the European Economic Area (EEA).
They may, for example, offer tariffs where the price of the first minute exceeds the voice-Eurotariff limit, but where a lower price is charged in subsequent minutes.
It is up to each user to choose the tariff that best suits their needs.
Operators may offer other tariffs, other than the SMS-Eurotariff and the Data-Eurotariff, for text messages sent in roaming.
16. What do I need to do to get the voice-Eurotariff, SMS-Eurotariff or data-Eurotariff?
Currently, when roaming is activated for the first time, the voice-Eurotariff, SMS-Eurotariff and data-Eurotariff apply automatically, unless you choose a different tariff.
If roaming has already been activated, you should contact your operator and ask to change to the Eurotariff. You can enable and disable the tariff at any time, without charge. The operator has to enable or disable the Eurotariff within 1 business day of receiving the customer's request. This period may be extended if your previous tariff is subject to a loyalty period.
Whatever the loyalty period, activation of the Eurotariff may not be postponed for more than two months.
17. How long does my operator take to activate the Eurotariff (voice, SMS and/or data)?
The operator has to enable or disable the Eurotariff (voice, SMS and/or data) within one business day of receiving the customer's request. This period may be extended if your previous tariff is subject to a loyalty period. Whatever the loyalty period, activation of the Eurotariff (voice, SMS and/or data) may not be postponed for more than two months.
18. Does the Eurotariff also cover calls made or received on board ships or aircraft?
The Eurotariff does not apply to satellite communications, as used on board ships or aircraft. Contact your operator for information about the tariffs charged in these situations.
19. Can the voice-Eurotariff, SMS-Eurotariff and data-Eurotariff be used simultaneously?
Yes. The voice-Eurotariff, SMS-Eurotariff and data-Eurotariff can always be combined with each other, so that you can use one, two or all three simultaneously.
20. How can I get more information about the roaming service?
You can get more information about roaming using:
Customer service contacts for national mobile operators
|
Optimus
|
1279 (Individual customers of Optimus, Kanguru and Rede4 and Continente Mobile) - free call from the Optimus network
1693 (other individual customers) - calls to the Customer Service Centre are free when handled by the automatic answering service and have a flat price of €0.20, when answered by a customer care assistant
Online support - 1693@optimus.ptmailto:1693@optimus.pt
16939 (businesses and professionals only)
Automatic, free answering service available 24 hours/day
Personalized service available from 8am to midnight, every day, costing:
- flat call cost: €0.19 from the Optimus network - fixed or mobile
- 0.38 euros/minute from other networks
Online support - 16939@optimusnegocios.ptmailto:16939@optimusnegocios.pt
800932020 (Kanguru helpline)
Calls free from any national network
Continente Mobile: 16935 (customer helpline) - free call from Continente Mobile network. Automatic, free answering service available. When caller asks to speak to an assistant, the call is charged at 0.41 euros, regardless of duration, with a 50% discount credited to the customer's Continente card
e-mail: 16935@continente.ptmailto:16935@continente.pt
|
|
TMN
|
HELPLINE - INDIVIDUAL CUSTOMERS
1696 (customer helpline)
Calls that originate on the TMN, UZO and fixed PTC networks - 0.205 euros/call
Calls originating on other fixed or mobile networks - 0.380 euros/minute billed per second after 1st minute (excluding VAT)
Online support - use TMNhttp://www.tmn.pt/portal/site/tmn/menuitem.252bb5da9c831a5b8dbcf210851056a0/?vgnextoid=b993faf4cf05df00VgnVCM1000005a01650aRCRD
HELPLINE - BUSINESS CUSTOMERS
16206 (PT Negócios helpline) - free call from any national network
e-mail: apoio.ptnegocios@telecom.ptmailto:apoio.ptnegocios@telecom.pt
12030 (Specialist technical helpline) - cost of a call to TMN network according to the customer's tariff
12033 (Billing Helpline)
Calls that originate on TMN network: 0.205 euros/ call
Calls free from TMN network, when handled by the automatic answering service
|
|
Vodafone
|
16912 (individual customers) - free call when handled by automatic answering service and a flat price of 0.20 euros per call when customer care assistant requested
16914 (business customers) - free call when handled by automatic answering service and a flat price of 0.20 euros per call when customer care assistant requested
16910 - support for roaming customers - free call
1220- Roaming Information (send SMS with name of country/destination for more detailed information about prices of roaming) - Free Service
Online support - apoiocliente@vodafone.ptmailto:apoiocliente@vodafone.pt
|
|
CTT (Phone-ix)
|
1692 - 0.12 euros on network
707922922 - 0.40 euros from other mobile networks
Online support - clientes@phone-ix.ptmailto:clientes@phone-ix.pt
|
|
ZON
|
(+351)929001799 (support number for issues related to international roaming) - Free call from within the European Union (EU)
(+351)929001699 (ZON Mobile customer helpline) - call charged according to customer’s roaming tariff
16990 - prices:
- free call from national fixed network
- 0.0738 euros/minute from ZON Mobile network
- 0.3075 euros/minute from other mobile networks
Online support - cliente@netcabo.ptmailto:cliente@netcabo.pt
|
- the websites of national mobile operators:
- Optimus - roaminghttp://www.optimus.pt/particulares/Servicos/Roaming
- TMN - roaminghttp://www.tmn.pt/portal/site/tmn/menuitem.02de8b1181a04ba241a377107368e84b/?vgnextoid=83dcfaf4cf05df00VgnVCM1000005a01650aRCRD
- Vodafone - roaminghttp://www.vodafone.pt/main/Particulares/Roaming/
- CTT - roaminghttp://www.phone-ix.pt/fephn/wcmservlet/site/open/tarifarios/roaming
- ZON - roaminghttp://www.zon.pt/telemovel/Tarifarios/Internacional-e-Roaming/Pages/default.aspx
- other web sites with information on roaming tariffs in the European Union (EU), including:
- GSM Associationhttp://www.gsmworld.com/
- European Commissionhttp://ec.europa.eu/index_pt.htm
Informational services on use of roaming in countries of the European Economic Area (EEA)
|
Optimus
|
(+351)931279000* (Individual customers of Optimus, Kanguru, Rede4 and Continente Mobile)
e-mail: 16939@optimus.ptmailto:16939@optimus.pt
(+351)931693900** (businesses and professionals only)
e-mail: 16939@optimusnegocios.ptmailto:16939@optimusnegocios.pt
CONTINENTE MOBILE
Customer helpline - (+351)931693500***
Voice mail access: (+351)931331330****
e-mail: 16935@continente.ptmailto:16935@continente.pt
* Free call from the Optimus network
** Automatic, free answering service available 24 hours/day free of charge. Personalized service available from 8am to midnight, every day (cost of call: 0.19 euros from the Optimus network - fixed or mobile - regardless of call duration; 0.38 euros/minute from other networks).
*** Call costs 0.41 euros/call, regardless of call duration.
**** Price of roaming call made to Portugal.
|
|
TMN
|
12083 (pre-paid customers) - free call
(+351)961000083 (post-paid customers) - free call
CUSTOMER HELPLINE
(+351)961696000 (call to Portugal charged according to customer’s roaming tariff)
HELPLINE - INDIVIDUAL CUSTOMERS
Online support - use TMNhttp://www.tmn.pt/portal/site/tmn/menuitem.252bb5da9c831a5b8dbcf210851056a0/?vgnextoid=b993faf4cf05df00VgnVCM1000005a01650aRCRD
HELPLINE - BUSINESS CUSTOMERS
e-mail: apoio.ptnegocios@telecom.ptmailto:apoio.ptnegocios@telecom.pt
|
|
Vodafone
|
(+351)911691000 - support for roaming customers - free call.
1220 - Roaming Information (send SMS with name of country/destination for more detailed information about prices of roaming) - Free Service
|
|
CTT
|
12083 (access possible through mobile voice calls) can be reached by dialling (+351)961000083 - free call
|
|
ZON
|
(+351)929001799 - free call
|
Informational services on use of roaming in countries not in EEA
|
Optimus
|
(+351)931279000* (Individual customers of Optimus, Kanguru, Rede4 and Continente Mobile)
(+351)931693900** (businesses and professionals only)
CONTINENTE MOBILE
Customer helpline – (+351)931693500***
Voice mail access: (+351)931331330****
e-mail: 16935@continente.ptmailto:16935@continente.pt
* Free call from the Optimus network
** Automatic, free answering service available 24 hours/day free of charge. Personalized service available from 8am to midnight, every day (cost of call: 0.19 euros from the Optimus network - fixed or mobile - regardless of call duration; 0.38 euros/minute from other networks)
*** Call costs 0.41 euros/call, regardless of call duration.
**** Price of roaming call made to Portugal.
|
|
TMN
|
CUSTOMER HELPLINE
(+351)961696000 (call to Portugal charged according to customer’s roaming tariff)
HELPLINE - INDIVIDUAL CUSTOMERS
Online support - use TMNhttp://www.tmn.pt/portal/site/tmn/menuitem.252bb5da9c831a5b8dbcf210851056a0/?vgnextoid=b993faf4cf05df00VgnVCM1000005a01650aRCRD
|
|
Vodafone
|
(+351)911691200 - individual customers (call to Portugal charged according to customer’s roaming tariff)
(+351)911691400 - individual customers (call to Portugal charged according to customer’s roaming tariff)
1220 - Roaming Information (send SMS with name of country/destination for more detailed information about prices of roaming) - Free Service
|
|
CTT
|
707922922 (call to Portugal charged according to customer's roaming tariff)
|
|
ZON
|
(+351)929100799 (call to Portugal charged according to customer's roaming tariff)
|
21. Can I be made to pay a deposit before using roaming?
In accordance with Decree-Law no. 195/99 of 8 Junehttp://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?contentId=975336, operators are prohibited from demanding a deposit (of any value) to guarantee compliance with the obligations arising from provision of the service.
22. What is the voice-Eurotariff?
The voice-Eurotariff is a roaming tariff applicable to voice calls (calls made and received). All operators in the countries of the European Economic Area (EEA) are required to make this tariff available to their customers. Prices per minute shall not exceed the following stipulated maximum limits:
|
Voice-Eurotariff
|
Maximum price/minute (excluding VAT)
From 1 July 2012
|
Maximum price/minute (excluding VAT)
From 1 July 2013
|
Maximum price/minute (excluding VAT)
From 1 July 2014
until 30 June 2017
|
|
Calls made
|
0.29 euros
|
0.24 euros
|
0.19 euros
|
|
Calls received
|
0.08 euros
|
0.07 euros
|
0.05 euros
|
|
Messages received in voice mail
|
Free
|
Free
|
Free
|
|
To listen to voice mail messages
|
Check with
your operator
|
Check with
your operator
|
Check with
your operator
|
The voice-Eurotariff does not apply to calls received in roaming where they originate from a country outside the EEA, even if the customer is in a country belonging to the EEA.
23. Does it cost anything to switch to the Eurotariff?
The Eurotariff does not entail any subscription and has no cost associated with it.
The operator has to enable or disable the voice-Eurotariff within one business day of receiving the customer's request. Activation may be extended by up to two months if the customer is still covered by their current tariff's loyalty period.
24. Do I have to pay for calls I receive while abroad?
As a rule you have to pay for calls you receive abroad. This is a common practice among most national and international operators, since your national operator has to pay the operator of the country you are visiting for use of their network.
Before travelling, ask your operator about the price you will pay when receiving calls.
The maximum limit for calls received within the European Economic Area (EEA), where originated in an EEA country, is capped at 0.08 euros /excluding VAT (voice-Eurotariff value from July 2012 and with annual reductions until 2014).
25. When I'm using roaming abroad and someone calls me from my home country, does the caller pay the same as if I were home?
Anyone calling you from your home country while you are abroad will pay the same as they would pay if you were at home.
26. Is an international call (for example, made from a phone box in the country I am visiting) cheaper than a call made using roaming?
Calls made from a payphone in a foreign country may be cheaper than calls made using roaming. Find out about the prices charged in both situations.
27. Do I have to pay when I receive voice messages in my voice mail when using roaming?
In the European Economic Area (EEA)
You do not have to pay if someone leaves you a voice mail message, provided the message originates in an EEA country. However, you may have to pay to listen to the recordings of voice messages while you are in one of these countries.
In other countries
Even if you have your phone turned off you may be charged if someone leaves you a voice message in your voice mail. Ask your operator about roaming tariffs and about how to avoid these costs (for example, you can turn your voice mail off before travelling).
28. How much do I have to pay to receive and hear voice messages if I have activated diversion of messages to another voice mail when using roaming?
Ask your operator about applicable roaming tariffs.
29. What is the SMS-Eurotariff?
The SMS-Eurotariff is a roaming tariff applicable to text messages (SMS) sent between countries of the European Economic Area (EEA). The tariff is subject to caps set by the European Union (EU). Operators in these countries are required to make this tariff available to their customers.
|
SMS-Eurotariff
|
Maximum price/unit
(excluding VAT)
From 1 July 2012
|
Maximum price/unit
(excluding VAT)
From 1 July 2013
|
Maximum price/unit
(excluding VAT)
From 1 July 2014 until
30 June 2017
|
|
SMS sent
|
0.09 euros
|
0.08 euros
|
0.06 euros
|
|
SMS received
|
Free
|
Free
|
Free
|
30. Are the prices charged to send messages (SMS) using roaming higher than those charged at home?
Generally, it is more expensive to send SMS messages with roaming than when sending messages in your home country. Ask your operator about applicable roaming tariffs.
31. Are SMS messages received while using roaming abroad free?
SMS messages received in the European Economic Area (EEA) are free.
Prices charged for SMS received in other countries depend on your tariff. Ask your operator about applicable roaming tariffs.
32. Does the SMS-Eurotariff cover messages sent while on board ships or aircraft?
The SMS-Eurotariff does not cover satellite communications, as used on board ships or aircraft.
Contact your operator for information about the tariffs which apply in these situations.
33. How much does a person sending me a message (SMS or MMS) pay if I am abroad?
Anyone sending you a text (SMS) or multimedia (MMS) message pays the same regardless of whether the person receiving it happens to be abroad or at home. Your location is not relevant to the price paid.
34. What is the data-Eurotariff?
The data-Eurotariff is a roaming tariff which covers transmission of data. Operators in countries of the European Economic Area (EEA) have been required to make this tariff available to their customers since 1 July 2012. Prices are subject to certain caps.
|
Data-Eurotariff
|
Maximum price/megabyte
(excluding VAT)
From 1 July 2012
|
Maximum price/megabyte
(excluding VAT)
From 1 July 2013
|
Maximum price/megabyte
(excluding VAT)
From 1 July 2014 until
30 June 2017
|
|
Data volume
|
0.70 euros
|
0.45 euros
|
0.20 euros
|
The data-Eurotariff only applies to transmission of data within the territory of EEA countries and with a destination in one of these countries.
35. Are MMS messages received while roaming abroad free?
This depends on your tariff.
Ask your operator about any charges that may apply.
36. Is accessing the Internet while abroad more expensive than at home?
Generally, it is more expensive to access the Internet while abroad than in your home country. Also, with roaming, flat tariffs (with prices fixed, irrespective of traffic volume) are less common and even mixed tariffs (prices fixed to a certain limit, with a charge made according to traffic volume beyond this limit) are less common, which increases Internet consumption.
Contact your operator for information about the tariffs applicable to these situations. In any case:
- you should keep track of the volume of Internet traffic consumed;
- ask your operator for information on the volume of traffic (in bytes) usually consumed by the applications which you intend to use in roaming (for example, checking e-mails, sending e-mails, downloading documents, etc.);
- obtain information about alternatives to control the volume of traffic you use, given that the unit of measurement - byte - can be difficult to keep track of.
37. How can I implement the ''consumption limit'' feature for roaming Internet access in the European Economic Area (EEA)?
You can limit roaming Internet access in the countries of the European Economic Area (EEA). Operators are required to provide their customers with a service that informs them about their accumulated consumption in roaming, by volume of traffic (bytes) or in terms of euros.
If you want to limit access to the Internet while you are roaming abroad, contact your operator - your operator has to enable the service to control accumulated consumption within one day and free of charge.
This service must ensure that accumulated expenditure does not exceed a specified financial limit proposed by the operator, except where the customer gives their consent. The service must ensure that a customer's consumption does not exceed a limit of 50 euros/month (excluding VAT) during any monthly billing period. The customer may choose higher or lower limits. If the customer does not choose a different limit, the default limit is applied, as indicated.
38. How can I make sure I do not run up large bills for use of the Internet in roaming inside and outside the European Economic Area (EEA)?
Regulation No. 531/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council, of 13 June 2012, specifies that mobile operators inside and outside the EEA shall make an application available free of charge and automatically, giving users information on their consumption of data while roaming , expressed in volume of traffic or in euros. This application must also ensure that their consumption does not exceed a limit of 50 euros / month (excluding VAT). If this limit is exceeded, the operator must send an alert to your phone or other device (e.g. computer). This alert must also tell you what to do if you want to continue access to the Internet in roaming after exceeding the established consumption limit, including information on the costs resulting from additional consumption. Once the consumption limit is reached, unless you follow the instructions given by the mobile operator, Internet access roaming will be immediately suspended.
If billed per message, the limit of 50 euros/month (excluding VAT) will not apply to the sending/reception of MMS messages, despite also entailing data transfer. However, if MMS messages are billed per megabyte, they will be included for the purposes of the limit of 50 euros.
The operator will also send a warning to your phone or computer when 80 percent of the consumption limit has been reached. You can ask your operator to stop sending these alerts, free of charge.
From 1 November 2010, whenever a roaming customer wants to activate or deactivate the "cost or volume limit", this alteration is implemented free of charge, no later than one working day following receipt of the request. This request cannot be made subject to conditions or restrictions associated with other features of the subscription.
When travelling outside the EEA, the operator of the visited country may not allow your home operator to monitor your Internet consumption in real time. In this case, you must be notified by SMS when arriving in the country, without delay and without charge, that information on accumulated consumption is not available and that there is no guarantee that the specified financial limit will not be exceeded.
