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Roaming in Europe

ni4wdc
2: Seeker
2: Seeker

I am from New Zealand and are planning a trip to the UK and Europe in June, July & August 2016 - I want to bring my NZ iPhone with me, buy an UK SIM and have a plan that will allow me to use the phone for calls, data and texts in the UK and Europe. What do I need to buy and what plan should I get? Thanks in advance.

1 ACCEPTED SOLUTION

catean
10: Established
10: Established

When European Union says national rates, they are refering to the national rate for interconection between operators, named termination rates : https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Termination_rates .

 

At the moment the call termination rate is 0.68 pence per minute so that is why te operators decided to simplify the charges for their billing systems and just add the roaming charge without adding the national termination rate too.

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6 REPLIES 6

kids
Community Champion (Retired)
Community Champion (Retired)

Firstly you wil need to make sure your phone is unlocked and then buy a PAYG sim on your arrival,

 

Then you can choose any of the PAYG bundles that will suit your needs from here: 

 

You will find it cheaper to buy a local sim in each of the countries you vist. 

BandOfBrothers
17: Community Champion
17: Community Champion

Hi

 

I would first suggest you have your phone unlocked to all networks so it accepts a Vodafone SIM card. 

 

There are big value bundles and freebies available on Payg. 

 

http://www.vodafone.co.uk/shop/bundles-and-sims/pay-as-you-go-plans/

Current Phone  >

Samsung Galaxy s²³ Ultra 512gb Phantom Black.

 

 

Annie_N
Community Champion (Retired)
Community Champion (Retired)

Bizarrely, it seems that, as from 30 April 2016, it will be extraordinarily cheap to roam within the EU while using a Vodafone UK SIM. The new prices are given here, and are very much below the standard prices for using one's phone within the UK. Unless you will be using your phone very heavily, EuroTraveller for PAYG is unlikely to be to your advantage.

 

I don't understand why this should be, and can only think that the English translations of the new rules leave a lot to be desired! However, I am seriously considering getting a French SIM to use while in the UK.

 

There are a couple of snags - the first is minor, in that you must ensure before going from the UK to Europe that your account is enabled for roaming - see the notes here. The other is more significant, as to top up a Vodafone UK account from outside the UK would require either a UK-based credit card, or to have some UK top-up vouchers with you. However, you could ensure that your account is well topped up before you move on from the UK, and then get a local SIM when the money runs out!

 

While you are in the UK, calls back to NZ would be relatively inexpensive provided you opt into Vodafone International. But this wouldn't work outside the UK - for that, a local SIM might well be more effective.

catean
10: Established
10: Established

Nothing bizarre, it's just European Union doing what they should do and that is taking care of their citizens interests.

Annie_N
Community Champion (Retired)
Community Champion (Retired)

What is bizarre, to my mind at any rate, is the mismatch between the EU's pronouncements on the matter, as set out on http://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/travel/money-charges/mobile-roaming-costs/index_en.htm and the actual rates to be charged.

 

I have no problem with the EU protecting its citizens' interests, which I happen to think they do quite well! But I really don't understand how one gets from that page to http://www.vodafone.co.uk/campaigns/roaming-july-15-payg/changes-to-payg-in-eu-reg/ However, I shall be very happy to take advantage of the new rates when they come in.

catean
10: Established
10: Established

When European Union says national rates, they are refering to the national rate for interconection between operators, named termination rates : https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Termination_rates .

 

At the moment the call termination rate is 0.68 pence per minute so that is why te operators decided to simplify the charges for their billing systems and just add the roaming charge without adding the national termination rate too.