3 Bans Mobile Broadband Roaming
Mobile phone operator 3 has taken the step of placing a blanket ban on using it’s mobile broadband services whilst abroad. The decision affects all customers who wish to use their USB dongle or mobile phone to access 3G data services whilst away from the UK.
The move follows several instances of “bill shock” whereby some customers have inadvertently incurred thousands of pounds worth of data charges whilst abroad. Three customers who wish to use their 3G mobile internet package abroad will have to contact their provider to lift the ban before they travel although a credit limit will be applied in order to avoid any excessive charges.
Chief executive of 3 UK, Kevin Russell, said on Tuesday, “Because of the huge disparity between what we charge on our own networks and the costs charged by many networks for wholesale roaming across Europe, which we are forced to pass on to the customer, we have decided to make a data-roaming bar the default for our contract mobile broadband customers”
Currently, Three operates it’s mobile broadband network in several European countries including Austria, Denmark, Ireland, Italy and Sweden. 3 customers roaming between these networks incur no extra charges, but elsewhere in Europe charges vary from network to network.
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I actually think this is a good thing - far too many people were heading off on holidays with thier dongle in the bag planning to do a few quick email checks - and then come home to the shock of a HUGE bill for their mobile broadband usage.
I havent compared o2’s roaming prices, but roaming with 3 can very quickly rack up a bill!