Business | Telecoms
Etisalat simplifies global roaming rates
Charges based on geographical zones
- Staff Report
- Published: 00:00 February 9, 2010
- Reader comments (3)
- Mobile call prices are among the highest in the Middle East
- Image Credit: Gulf News Archive
Dubai: Etisalat on Monday unveiled simplified roaming prices for worldwide destinations based on zones replacing country-specific charges.
"Etisalat's revamped international roaming charges for outbound roamer are now unified and a flat rate will be applied according to the new roaming zones and new rates," the company said in a statement.
The highest per minute roaming charges have been kept at Dh10 per minute for GSM and Dh11 for Wasel pre-paid customers, inclusive of taxes and operator roaming charges. For the GCC, the roaming charges per minute have been fixed at Dh3 and Dh4 for GSM and Wasel respectively.
"This enhanced service means that etisalat's customers can benefit from unified rates when sending any SMS or receiving voice/video calls from anywhere; or making voice/ video calls to local and UAE destinations while abroad. They will enjoy unified call rates across specific international zones without any hidden additional tax or operator charges added to the call tariff," the statement said.
The new roaming structure will see standard rates applied for calls made from or received between the travelling destination and the UAE. It will also aid and motivate customers to receive any incoming call due to better affordability than making outgoing calls, thereby staying fully connected with their families or businesses.
Additionally, Wasel outbound roamers can make out-going non-direct calls to local destinations or the UAE, in countries where direct roaming is not supported by simply dialing *111*(phone number)# and clicking on ‘Send', all calls charged as per the new simplified tariff. GSM postpaid outbound roamers will also benefit from reduced roaming rates.
Khalifa Al Shamsi, Senior Vice-President of Consumer Marketing, said, "Introducing enhanced products and services through consumer research and technological breakthroughs ties into etisalat's customer-centric culture and commitment. The new unified zoning for roaming customers is a result of etisalat's effort and staunch dedication to ensure high quality, simple and more favourable roaming service to its users. Etisalat has the region's widest international roaming network and now etisalat customers don't have to remember over 520 roaming partner prices in 190 countries, for each call type any more only three rates."
Three catergories
For easier reference and usage control, the roaming zones have been geographically categorised into three travelling destinations as logically observed. These are: Gulf Countries (GCC), Other Arab Countries and Rest of the World (ROW).
Are you satisfied with this new service? Do you think the rates are too high? Would you use this service when travelling?
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Readers Comments
View all comments (3 comments) | Post a comment
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Even after such development, we continue to suffer from paying high bills for our telecomunication needs. Countries like India, Malaysia and other countries have much lower rates. We hope to see the rates going further down.
Mohammad Abu Bakr, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
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DISSAPOINTED ON ETISALAT!!! I must say, Du and Etisalat overcharge to maximum international calls. It's so wrong for Dubai that you feel bad when making a phonecall to europe. I paid in average 18aed/minute for calls to europe from my international phone when in Dubai. That is the only place on earth where it's so expenisve.
Eric, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
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What's the difference in rates between 'other Arab countries' and 'Rest of the world'?
Rizwan Kazi, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
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