ComReg warns consumers about roaming charges abroad

The Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) today launched a new section on its website informing mobile phone users about the costs of international mobile roaming.

A recent ComReg survey found that 57% of users who travelled abroad last year had only a limited knowledge of roaming costs, while a further 20% had no knowledge at all of roaming costs.

The new section informs people about the cost of making and receiving calls, while travelling abroad, using both pre-pay and pay-monthly mobile phone options.

The countries included are the UK, Spain, Italy, and Portugal.

Over the coming months ComReg plans to add similar information for other countries.

The site also shows what the cost of the call would be in Ireland so that consumers may benchmark or compare that price against the price of roaming in a particular country.

ComReg will update the pricing web pages on a regular basis in order to give consumers up-to-date information.

ComReg Commissioner Mike Byrne said: "Mobile phone users should be aware that they can minimise their roaming charges when abroad by manually selecting the best value network on which to roam.

"Consumers should also be aware that when abroad they pay for receiving calls – but receiving text messages is usually free."

The information on the costs of roaming may be found on www.askcomreg.ie\roaming