14 DAY TRIAL // Vodafone has announced a reduction in European roaming costs for Vodafone customers with at least 40% by April 2007. Over 30 million customers will benefit from a price reduction from 0.90 EUR to less than 0.55 EUR per minute.
Vodafone has subsidiary companies in 11 of the EU states and it said it will strike deals with other European operators in order to provide roaming services outside their own networks.
Vodafone will establish a tariff for other mobile operators who want to access Vodafone's network of no more than 0.45 EUR per minute. The operators in turn have to agree to allow Vodafone to access their networks at the same tariff. Vodafone plans to have arrangements ready for other mobile operators on request by 1 October 2006.
"The European Commission and European Parliament have made it clear that they expect to see change. Our announcement today shows that the market, led by Vodafone, is meeting those expectations by providing what our customers tell us they want. Also, by addressing both retail and wholesale prices, we are providing a platform for sustainable, lower retail prices across Europe in the future. We understand the powerful appeal that roaming has in the aspiration for a Europe in which people can travel, live, move, work and invest freely," stated Arun Sarin, Chief Executive of Vodafone.