Vodafone NZ says the New Zealand and Australian governments’ decision to monitor trans-Tasman roaming rates is the most sensible course of action given the rapidly changing market for international data roaming.
Becky Lloyd, Vodafone GM of Business Marketing says the report acknowledges that prices have been coming down, and says this has been driven by customer needs.
“The introduction of the smartphone in 2008 caused a radical change in the way customers use their mobiles," she says.
"Instead of simply being a device for calling and text messages, the smartphone has become most customers’ primary portal to the internet.
“Now, when Kiwis travel, they want to use their smartphone as they do at home, and we have been focused on making it easy for customers to roam with confidence."
Lloyd says competition between the three networks on each side of the Tasman is driving down both wholesale and retail pricing.
Whether Vodafone and it's rivals actually believe this to be good news is another matter however, but it is certainly good news for customers who can benefit from telcos desperately trying to outdo each other - and long may it continue.
