Telecom extends flat rate data roaming to new markets

Telecom extends flat rate data roaming to new markets; keeps $6 Australian roaming rate

Telecom today announced that from Monday 1 July it will extend the $10 flat daily rate for mobile data roaming to four new markets – Japan, Singapore, Korea and France – and confirmed that it will keep the $6 daily rate for data roaming in Australia in place, after an overwhelmingly positive response from Telecom roaming customers to the deals. 

In the five months since the flat daily rates were introduced, Telecom customers travelling overseas used three times as much roaming data as they did in the same period in 2012, and Telecom has received very strong feedback on the simplicity and the value of the offer – particularly from business customers.

With the addition of these four new markets, Telecom’s flat rate data roaming deal now covers New Zealand’s nine biggest export markets, representing 80% of the country’s total exports.

Niki Chave, Telecom Head of Mobile Roaming, said: “Smartphones are becoming more and more important in our daily lives.  More than half of Kiwis own one, and when travelling we’re now using them as our diaries, itineraries, maps, cameras and travel guides, as well as a way to keep in touch with people back home. 

“Telecom’s vision is for our customers to feel as comfortable using their smartphones overseas as they do using them in New Zealand. Charging a flat daily rate is the best way to do this because - let’s face it - how many of us really know what, say, 25MB gets you in terms of usage?”

Speaking about the daily flat rates, Rod Drury, Chief Executive of Xero, said: "This has changed the game for exporters. No more worrying when using maps or sending messages back to the home team. Overseas is when mobile is most important so we're thankful Telecom has made roaming so affordable."

Darryl Warren, Chief Information Officer at Lion, said “Lion is delighted that Telecom has reconfirmed its’ decision on flat rate data roaming because it gives us certainty and assurance against excessive “bill shock”.”

The $6 flat rate for roaming in Australia was introduced in December 2012, when Telecom announced it was slashing its data roaming prices to a number of international destinations.  However, the company had previously said it would review the rate before 30 June, and make a decision then on whether to continue it.

ENDS

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