Cell Phone Users in Australia to be Forewarned About High Roaming Charges

By: Zain Nabi  |   July 3rd, 2013   |   News

Have you ever travelled abroad and used your phone the bill of which seemed exorbitant? If yes, then now you do not need to worry about high roaming charges as they will be now be deducted only if you want them.

 

As per the recent developments, the cell phone users in Australia before travelling overseas will be notified of the fact that their cell phone is going on roaming and hence the charges will be huge, should they choose to use the service. The services will be activated from September. Communications minister Anthony Albanese told reporters, via The Australian:

 

“For young people who just jumped on the plane and then come home to find that their mobile phone has cost them more than the plane journey, I think they’re entitled to say ‘this is wrong’. What we’re about today is doing something about it.”

 

However, some authorities, despite liking this move, do not seem entirely content with it. While lauding this move, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA)chair Chris Chapman said, via Sydney Morning Herald:

 

“Forewarned is certainly a major part of being forearmed.”

 

He added:

 

“These new measures will help consumers travelling with their mobile phone to be much better equipped than ever before to avoid travel bill shock.”

 

But a spokesman for Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) Asher Moses raised some concerns over the matter and said:

 

“The standard will not solve the underlying problem, which is that global roaming charges are still way too high and do not come close to reflecting the true cost of providing the service. The excuse from providers that they are simply passing on the costs from international carriers is not convincing, as virtually zero transparency is provided as to how such exorbitant fees are derived.”

 

Meanwhile, the government is also in talks with international authorities to control pricing for data. Albanese said:

 

“A lot of Australians who are in New Zealand (think) if you’re in Wellington it’s no different than if you’re in Perth. Well there is a big difference. If people want to rack up a sizeable bill that’s ok, but they should do so in the full knowledge of what they’re doing.”

 

Photo: TelecomLead