tag:theconversation.com,2011:/ca/topics/roaming-charges-1962/articlesRoaming charges – The Conversation2018-08-19T14:35:10Ztag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1017992018-08-19T14:35:10Z2018-08-19T14:35:10ZThe end of roaming charges in the European Union: a cure-all solution?<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/232573/original/file-20180819-165958-1r1kokr.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=7%2C8%2C1191%2C664&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">The end roaming charges is not yet synonymous with total freedom.</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/woman-playing-smartphone-airport-548711977?src=Ecq3mB-RPDtVD8RZEZ9b5A-2-9">Shutterstock</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>The European Union has required wireless network operators to <a href="https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/index_en.htm">stop charging roaming fees</a> during trips to other EU countries. For nomad users who regularly travel throughout Europe, this added comfort is truly appreciated: no more fears of additional charges. However, while the benefit is real, some questions about roaming costs remain.</p>
<h2>Respecting European unity</h2>
<p>Before the end of roaming fees in June 2017, the operator of your mobile plan allowed you to communicate within your country and allowed a maximum amount of Internet data you could consume (once depleted, you would either be charged additional fees, or your service would be restricted). Any travel outside your country of origin involved an additional flat-rate fee or charges based on volume. This situation limited communication and went against the European spirit of unity. To remedy this, in October 2016, the European Commission approved a law prohibiting operators from charging their users for communications and data usage while traveling abroad.</p>
<p>The goal of this decision was clearly established: create a single open market for electronic communications. Now when you travel, your usage will be charged to your plan exactly as it is in your country of origin. This means no more fears of extra fees, including for data usage: no need to wait to find wi-fi access to use data, 3G and 4G networks can now be used without resulting in bad surprises. This new system required agreements to be made between the different operators and countries that are transparent for users in order to locate mobile phones and direct communications.</p>
<p>To prevent any unfair competition within the EU and prevent citizens from choosing a plan from the least expensive country, the rule was established that users must take out a plan in their own country, which is defined as the country where they spend the most time. In addition, roaming usage must be “reasonable”.</p>
<h2>Completely free roaming?</h2>
<p>As mentioned, “free” roaming is guaranteed by the law only <a href="https://www.arcep.fr/index.php?id=1&L=1">“within a reasonable limit of use”</a>. Specifically, operators can set a roaming limit for mobile Internet usage without additional fees in order to prevent usage and associated costs from rocketing. However, this limit must be controlled by the regulation and the user must be clearly informed. The framework for this application is therefore not necessarily the same abroad as in the user’s country. In addition, the <a href="https://www.arcep.fr/?id=8710">roaming rules</a> only apply to services within the European Economic Area (EEA); therefore your plan may include services intended for countries outside the EEA which will only apply if you are in your country of origin.</p>
<p>It is also worth noting that there is still a missing step to truly achieving a single market and real freedom within the EU. In general, calling another EU country from your own country is not including in your mobile plan and incurs additional costs, so there is a distinction that is made within the European Community. Similarly, if you make a call while traveling, the call is not counted within your plan, but is charged as if you were calling from your country of origin, which could potentially be outside your plan, and yet it would be natural to be able to call to make a reservation at a restaurant without paying extra fees.</p>
<p>Therefore, integrating these additional aspects, in other words no longer differentiating between a call from or to another EU country, could be the final step toward achieving a fully open market perceived by users as a single market.</p>
<h2>A risk of rising rates?</h2>
<p>Another aspect to monitor is how this new rule will impact the rates of users’ plans: is there a risk that this will lead to a rise in prices, as an averaging effect in which those who rarely travel will have to pay for those who travel frequently? This potential risk was brought to light in scientific publications through theoretical modeling and game theory. The operator’s income could also decrease. It is still too soon since the application of this new regulation to effectively assess its impact, yet all these reasons clearly show that we will need to pay special attention to how prices change.</p>
<hr>
<p><em>To learn more:<br>
– P. Maillé and B. Tuffin (2017) <a href="http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/8255969/?reload=true">“Enforcing free roaming among UE countries: an economic analysis”</a>, 13th International Conference on Network and Service Management (CNSM), Tokyo, Japan, Presses de Sciences Po.<br>
– P. Maillé and B. Tuffin (2017), <a href="http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/8251216/">“How does imposing free roaming in EU impact users and ISPs’ relations?”</a>, 8th International Conference Network of the Future, London, UK.</em></p>
<p><em>The original French version of this article was <a href="https://blogrecherche.wp.imt.fr/en/2018/06/04/roaming-charges-in-eu/">translated to English</a> by the Institut Mines-Télécom.</em></p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/101799/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Patrick Maillé has received funding from the Institut Mines-Télécom, the ANR, the European Commission and Orange (CIFRE theses) on the subject of network economics.</span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Bruno Tuffin a reçu des financements de l'Inria, l'ANR, Européens et CIFRE avec Orange sur le sujet de l'économie des réseaux. </span></em></p>Since 15 June 2017, roaming charges have been banned in the European Union. Are users necessarily beneficiaries of this measure?Patrick Maillé, Professeur, IMT Atlantique – Institut Mines-TélécomBruno Tuffin, Directeur de recherche Inria, InriaLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/283432014-06-23T12:51:51Z2014-06-23T12:51:51Z100% mobile coverage is a pipe dream – even with national roaming<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/51920/original/qc6w2y58-1403518796.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">Keeping dream of reception in the remotest areas.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Subbotina Anna</span></span></figcaption></figure><p>Mobile phone providers <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-27953508">should introduce national roaming</a>, Britain’s Culture Secretary, <a href="http://www.sajidjavid.com/">Sajid Javid</a>, has announced. The purpose: to enable full mobile phone coverage across the UK, bringing signal to those black spots where you lose it. </p>
<p>In the same way that you can switch provider when you travel abroad, you would be able to switch to an alternative network when yours is not available. This sounds great, but it won’t bring 100% mobile coverage across the UK.</p>
<h2>Free roam?</h2>
<p>Our phones coupled with the technology provided by mobile networks are continually working to establish which mobile mast offers the best signal, as well as the network availability of each mast (for example, how many other people are using it). If your mobile phone is using a mast that has fewer connections and you travel closer to one with more connections, your phone will remain connected to the original mast, so long as the original signal remains within reasonable bounds, in terms of strength. So, roaming between the masts of your own provider takes place all the time. </p>
<p>When you travel abroad and have your phone’s roaming function switched on, you can then switch between the mobile masts of different providers. By flicking the roaming switch on your phone, this informs your phone that it can connect to other networks. But, you must also have this agreed with your mobile phone provider so that they can use their network routing method to find you a network that they have an agreement with. </p>
<p>An interesting example can be found within England, in the idyllic and remote Lake District. If you are on the western side of this geographical area and at a suitable height, your mobile phone, if it has international roaming, may connect to the mobile network on the Isle of Man, which is a separate political entity within the British Isles. Therefore, in principle, the idea of national roaming is sound. Without any technical knowledge you could envisage a system where all mobile telecommunications networks interconnect.</p>
<h2>The reality</h2>
<p>At many levels all the telecommunications companies do work well together. But they also compete and will not be jumping for joy at the notion that the network they have invested considerable millions in infrastructure in to reach prime customer locations now has to be shared. The call for national roaming requires them to share each others’ technology and undermines the competitive nature of their business.</p>
<p>Technologically speaking, it may be possible to connect to other providers, but when connected to an unknown providers network, the network rules are not always in place to make sure we get the best connection or the best deal.</p>
<p>It’s possible to control the volume and bandwidth of traffic in any networked system. This means that one provider can limit the service quality available to a customer from another network roaming into their system. So, even if they are forced to cooperate with this measure, companies can maintain their competitive edge this way.</p>
<p>Putting aside the technological and competition issues, what about hills, mountains, valleys and the terrain? Geography remains a barrier to full network coverage. In my car – I use hands free – I have come to know the areas where passing from mast to mast while driving and talking is going to disconnect any call. </p>
<p>Even if no new infrastructure was acquired and all networks joined together without any commercial issues, there would still be unreachable areas. This would then add the next problem of trying to establish who is actually going to pay for a mast to be erected in these areas and which network will own this.</p>
<p>We may eventually get 99.5% coverage, just by selecting two well-known providers (<a href="http://www.o2.co.uk/coveragechecker">O2</a> and <a href="http://ee.co.uk/ee-and-me/network/4gee/coverage-checker">EE</a>), which have comprehensive coverage of the UK between them. Yet you can see where they still have common gaps. You can also see where they only have 2G, which has very limited mobile data capacity. </p>
<p>The reality is that there will always be areas that cannot be reached. All networks being under government guidance will improve what is available, but 100%? Now that is a pipe-dream.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/28343/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Andrew Smith does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>Mobile phone providers should introduce national roaming, Britain’s Culture Secretary, Sajid Javid, has announced. The purpose: to enable full mobile phone coverage across the UK, bringing signal to those…Andrew Smith, Lecturer in Networking, The Open UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/96632012-09-19T20:42:10Z2012-09-19T20:42:10ZInternational roaming charges rip-off: the ITU gets involved …<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/15646/original/pkccny6g-1348032585.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=0%2C222%2C2400%2C1465&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">It's good news for customers, but there are limits to what the ITU can achieve.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">rayand</span></span></figcaption></figure><p>The <a href="http://www.itu.int/">International Telecommunications Union (ITU)</a> has entered the debate about excessive international roaming charges by <a href="http://www.itu.int/rec/T-REC-D.98-201209-P/en">recommending</a> measures that will improve consumer awareness and encourage operators to lower tariffs.</p>
<p>On September 14 in Geneva, ITU Secretary General Hamadoun I Touré <a href="http://www.itu.int/net/pressoffice/press_releases/2012/57.aspx">said</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>We recommend that governments and regulators explore ways to protect and empower consumers. Consumers need to be able to make their best choices among the array of options available to them in the rapidly evolving mobile marketplace.</p>
<p>Carriers should make information on international mobile services clearer and more transparent, and it should be easier for consumers to choose a network abroad that offers the best value.</p>
<p>In addition, alerts should be sent to consumers as they approach a certain cost limit for roaming, with a block placed on further usage unless authorised by the user.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>The ITU is the <a href="http://www.un.org/en/">United Nations</a> agency for information and communication technologies and is committed to connecting people from all over the world. It allocates global <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio_spectrum">radio spectrum</a>, satellite orbits, develops the technical standards that ensure networks and technologies seamlessly interconnect, and acts to improve worldwide access to information and communication technologies.</p>
<p>But importantly, the ITU cannot compel telecommunications operators to lower international roaming costs. Nonetheless, by releasing the above recommendations the ITU is encouraging regional operators and regulators to enter into cooperative agreements that would include lowering wholesale tariffs for international roaming calls, SMS and data.</p>
<h2>A small step forward</h2>
<p>In an earlier <a href="https://theconversation.com/are-australian-international-roaming-charges-the-greatest-rip-off-in-history-4340">article on The Conversation</a> I highlighted the excessive roaming charges between Australia and New Zealand as an example of the problem consumers faced when overseas.</p>
<p>More recently the federal communications minister Stephen Conroy stated the whole situation around mobile roaming was <a href="http://technologyspectator.com.au/why-conroy-needs-do-more-roaming-rip-offs">“frankly obscene”</a> and has started developing a regional agreement with New Zealand to reduce roaming charges across the Tasman.</p>
<p>Senator Conroy said on <a href="http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-08-23/telcos-ordered-to-end-roaming-rip-off/4216862">ABC News 24’s Breakfast program</a> on August 24:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>We’re announcing two things today: we’re releasing a discussion paper which we’ve worked on for the last couple of years with the New Zealand government which is saying “we need to act now”.</p>
<p>We’ve done a study and what we found was, at the beginning of the study, the mark-up, the margin for international cost calls between here and New Zealand was 1,000%. With the spotlight on, it’s come down to 300% but that is not good enough.</p>
<p>I’m directing the <a href="http://www.acma.gov.au/">Australian Communications and Media Authority</a> to put in place a standard which will see mobile phone companies notifying their customers when they’re overseas of the cost of a call, the cost of sending a text, the cost of going online, and giving them the option to opt out.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Senator Conroy’s announcement can now be seen to reflect the new ITU recommendations for regional agreements and actions to force operators to provide more information to customers about costs being incurred while overseas.</p>
<h2>World treaty</h2>
<p>The first major agreement to tackle excessive international roaming charges was <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Commission_roaming_regulations">put in place in 2007 by the European Union (EU)</a> which legislated to curb international roaming charges among member states. The EU <a href="http://www.pcworld.idg.com.au/article/424275/eu_roaming_charges_sharply_capped_starting_july/">reduced roaming costs further</a> in July 2012 and indicated the process of roaming cost reduction would continue until costs were reduced to a minimum.</p>
<p>The rest of the world has yet to act but there is hope.</p>
<p>In December this year there will be a <a href="http://www.itu.int/en/wcit-12/Pages/default.aspx">World Conference on International Telecommunications (WCIT-12)</a> in Dubai. </p>
<p>The ITU has raised for discussion the possibility of including international roaming in the <a href="http://www.itu.int/ITU-T/itr/">International Telecommunications Regulations (ITRs)</a>. The outcome would be roaming price transparency, immediate access to price information, greater competition and prices that are based on the actual costs incurred by the operator when providing the roaming service.</p>
<h2>Done deal? No way</h2>
<p>The only way the EU countries were able to achieve regulation of the international roaming charges was to legislate and force local operators to lower costs. The EU left nothing to chance and prescribed the roaming charges that EU operators must adhere to for EU consumers who take their phones with them around the EU.</p>
<p>Apart from the successful EU legislation no other international agreement or treaty has been put in place.</p>
<p>International telecommunication operators are expected to argue against any inclusion of international roaming regulation in the ITRs at WCIT-12. This is hardly to be unexpected – excessive international roaming charges have become a river of gold.</p>
<p>If a miracle should occur (and the ITU is not known for miracles as its members include international telecommunication companies that typically vote against anything not to their advantage) and international roaming regulation <em>is</em> added to the ITRs in a meaningful way at WCIT-12 then it can be expected that international telecommunication companies may ignore that section of the ITRs or argue for an implementation delay that could stretch out to a decade or more.</p>
<h2>The way forward</h2>
<p>The EU legislation to reduce excessive international roaming charges has been successful and Australia must follow the EU lead.</p>
<p>Senator Conroy needs to wrap up an agreement with New Zealand this year. Australia and New Zealand should pass legislation before the end of this year to regulate international roaming charges across the Tasman.</p>
<p>Last month Ovum research director David Kennedy was <a href="http://www.smartcompany.com.au/telecommunications/051379-conroy-calls-for-submissions-on-trans-tasman-roaming-charges-but-international-agreements-still-years-away.html">reported in SmartCompany</a> as saying that the <a href="http://www.aseansec.org/">Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN)</a> has expressed an interest to create an agreement similar to that in the EU:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>That’s at a much earlier stage than these negotiations, but if that were to come to pass, the next step would be combining the agreement with one between Australia and New Zealand.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>An agreement with the US and EU to regulate international roaming charges is not likely in the foreseeable future. Why? The world’s largest international telephone companies are located in the US and EU and for them international roaming charges remain a cash cow.</p>
<h2>Will it make a difference?</h2>
<p>The ITU action to highlight the international roaming problem is a positive step forward. But there are limits to what the ITU can achieve. Considerable effort is required by world governments to tackle excessive international roaming charges.</p>
<p>Senator Conroy can let our major international partners know of the Australian consumer’s outrage and the need for urgent action. Senator Conroy should start by calling his counterparts in the US and Europe, discussing the problem and publicly identifying a timetable for a joint Australian, US and EU treaty.</p>
<p>For now you should take care when travelling overseas and ensure you turn international roaming off before you leave. Think about purchasing a pre-paid SIM or phone when you arrive at your destination and look for free Wi-Fi hotspots on your travels.</p>
<p>For more information on how to ensure you don’t end up with bill shock after a holiday look at the <a href="http://www.acma.gov.au/WEB/STANDARD/pc=PC_1715">international roaming guide</a> and <a href="http://www.acma.gov.au/WEB/STANDARD/1001/pc=PC_410269">tips to prevent data roaming from ruining your holiday</a> provided by the <a href="http://www.acma.gov.au/">Australian Communications and Media Authority</a>.</p>
<p><strong>Further reading:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://theconversation.com/are-australian-international-roaming-charges-the-greatest-rip-off-in-history-4340">Are Australian international roaming charges the greatest rip-off in history?</a> – Mark Gregory, The Conversation</li>
</ul><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/9663/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Mark A Gregory does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) has entered the debate about excessive international roaming charges by recommending measures that will improve consumer awareness and encourage operators…Mark A Gregory, Senior Lecturer in Electrical and Computer Engineering, RMIT UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/43402011-11-30T02:35:09Z2011-11-30T02:35:09ZAre Australian international roaming charges the greatest rip-off in history?<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/6007/original/4843818714-536729cc08-o-jpg-1322612871.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">The mark-up on data charges can be as much as 200 times the actual cost.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">TBoard</span></span></figcaption></figure><p>What’s the greatest rip-off going? Maybe so many come to mind that you’re reaching for a pen.</p>
<p>Your list might look something like this:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.cleanup.org.au/au/Whatelsewesupport/bottled-water.html">bottled water</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.choice.com.au/reviews-and-tests/food-and-health/food-and-drink/beverages/sports-drinks-review-and-compare.aspx">sports drinks</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/racq-blasts-petrol-retailers-school-holiday-rip-off-20110916-1kckl.html">petrol price rises</a> just before a long weekend or public holiday</li>
<li>credit card interest rates and <a href="http://au.finance.yahoo.com/news/Retailers-ripping-customers-yahoo7finance-3258920710.html">surcharges</a>.</li>
</ul>
<p>And let’s not forget international companies that prevent Australians from buying products directly from their US website, forcing them to purchase goods through a local website where products are much more expensive.</p>
<p>Apple’s iTunes is a <a href="http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/ipad/how-itunes-buyers-are-ripped-off/story-fn6bqphm-1225981956267">good current example</a> of the online price discrimination practices facing Australian consumers.</p>
<p>Of course, this discrimination is not limited to goods purchased online.</p>
<p>An <a href="http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/57/62/48127892.pdf">OECD report</a> published in May this year states that Australia is the third most expensive country in 34 OECD countries studied.</p>
<p>But back to our list.</p>
<p>If you have made a trip overseas recently your tally of rip-offs may include international data roaming charges. And for good reason. </p>
<p>Forgetting to turn off the data connection to your phone before you hop on a plane can mean your next mobile phone bill will contain a <a href="http://www.choice.com.au/blog/2011/may/data-roaming-bill-shock.aspx">nasty, and very expensive, shock</a>.</p>
<figure class="align-right ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/6009/original/2923519025-6cd5797b83-b-jpg-1322612919.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/6009/original/2923519025-6cd5797b83-b-jpg-1322612919.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/6009/original/2923519025-6cd5797b83-b-jpg-1322612919.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/6009/original/2923519025-6cd5797b83-b-jpg-1322612919.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/6009/original/2923519025-6cd5797b83-b-jpg-1322612919.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/6009/original/2923519025-6cd5797b83-b-jpg-1322612919.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/6009/original/2923519025-6cd5797b83-b-jpg-1322612919.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption"></span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Eben Regis</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>In May this year, the Australian and New Zealand governments announced they would investigate the high cost of using a mobile phone when travelling across the Tasman.</p>
<p>A <a href="http://www.ausbt.com.au/au-nz-govts-to-discuss-global-roaming-rip-off">review</a> by The Australian Business Traveller highlighted a problem which – rightly – is causing outrage.</p>
<p>Depending on which network your phone belongs to, the cost can be as much as $AUD20/MB for international data roaming and $AUD4.40 per minute to call home to Australia from New Zealand.</p>
<p>Is this good value? To put it in perspective, the cost of transferring data over the internet is now available at $AUD0.10/MB or less.</p>
<h2>Take, take, take</h2>
<p>So is international data roaming the greatest rip-off in history? Possibly not, but it must be near the top given the mark-up on data charges is sitting at around 200 times the actual cost.</p>
<p>Representatives from Australian telecommunication companies will argue they have costs associated with providing their service, contract charges with the partnering telecommunication companies overseas; they’ll also point to the high cost of undersea cables to Australia.</p>
<p>But there are strong incentives for governments to look at ways of reducing unwanted costs and barriers.</p>
<p>Successive Australian governments have been tardy in dealing with this matter. There is a strong and compelling argument for the <a href="http://www.accc.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/142">Australian Consumer and Competition Commission</a> (ACCC) to be given greater powers to force Australian telecommunication companies to significantly reduce international roaming charges.</p>
<p>Australians are encouraged to travel and do business overseas, yet the issue of excessive international data roaming charges persists.</p>
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<span class="attribution"><span class="source">javierdebe</span></span>
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<p>Over the past decade, government committees have looked at this issue many times and produced numerous reports – the 2009 House of Representatives Standing Committee <a href="http://www.aph.gov.au/house/news/news_stories/news_Comms_Mar09.htm">investigation</a> being a case in point.</p>
<p>Sadly, the outcome of this review – a recommendation that travellers be made aware of alternatives to mobile roaming – was of little consequence.</p>
<p>As a starting point, the Australian and New Zealand governments should immediately regulate to force down the cost of international mobile phone and data roaming between both countries. There doesn’t appear to be technical or economic reasons why this can’t occur. </p>
<p>The cost of using an Australian mobile phone for calls or data while in Wellington, New Zealand, should be no more expensive than the cost of using an Australian mobile phone for calls or data while in Hobart.</p>
<p>What should we do in the short term? </p>
<p>Australians travelling overseas need to ensure they turn their mobile phone’s data connection off before leaving. The best solution is still to purchase a cheap pre-paid mobile phone and SIM card on landing and to use this for data connections.</p>
<p>Is this ideal? No, it’s not. Do we have a choice? Sadly, no, unless we want to continue being charged through the nose at literally hundreds of times the going rate for data transfer. </p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/4340/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Mark A Gregory does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>What’s the greatest rip-off going? Maybe so many come to mind that you’re reaching for a pen. Your list might look something like this: bottled water sports drinks petrol price rises just before a long…Mark A Gregory, Senior Lecturer in Electrical and Computer Engineering, RMIT UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.