EU roaming regulations

BT Business Mobile Broadband

From the 1^st July 2009 the European Union (EU) introduced a new international roaming regulation. All changes were mandatory. The following changes were introduced:

1) To ensure that customers are aware of roaming charges they will incur when they:

• make or receive a voice call within the EU
• send or receive a text (SMS) within the EU
• send or receive a picture message (MMS) within the EU
• send or receive data within the EU

All customers will receive a "Welcome SMS" outlining these charges when they travel within the EU.

2) To ensure price caps are implemented for certain call types E.G. a maximum price of 32p per minute (excluding VAT) for roamed calls originating and terminating in the EU and to ensure pricing remains competitive.

These changes were in addition to those made in June 2007.

From 1st July 2010 the EU Regulation for data roaming requires that all customers are by default opted into the Data roaming cap unless they specifically request to be opted out.

• Customers to be notified when they are nearing the 50 euros threshold
• Once the limit is reached, if the customer has taken no action to increase their limit or opt out of the threshold, the service must be suspended. By contacting their provider they can re-set their data roaming service
• Also from 1 July 2010 new maximum charges for making and receiving voice calls whilst roaming in an EU state will be applied. The exchange rate to be applied will be announced by the EU in June 2010
• This regulation does not apply to apply to customers that generally have more than 50 handsets or special roaming packages

What are the changes?

Reduction in the cost of sending SMS¹
BT is pleased to announce that the cost of sending an SMS when abroad and within the European Union (EU) will be reduced from the 1^st July 2009. This applies where a BT SIM card is roaming enabled and you send an SMS from an EU country other than the United Kingdom.

BT's charges for sending SMS when roaming outside the UK in one of the European member countries to another member country will be no more than 9 pence (excluding VAT) per SMS.

Changes to the way we bill for Voice calls, made when in an EU country other than the United Kingdom
From the 1^st July 2009, there will be a minimum call charge of 16p for the first 30 seconds of every call that you make when you are in the EU. After this period, you will be charged on a per second basis. Furthermore from the 1^st July 2009, you will be charged on a per second basis when receiving a call in the EU. No minimum call charge will be apply.

You can find further pricing information here.

SMS alerts containing Roaming charges

From the 1^st July 2009, by default all customers will receive charging information on SMS, MMS and data, where applicable - so you will always know what you are being charged.
Customers will also be able to call BT on +441635 691702¹ (free from a BT Mobile) for further pricing information when in the EU.

From July 2010, in addition to the welcome SMS, BT will provide SMS alerts to notify customers when they are nearing or have reached their 50 euros threshold. BT will also provide access via +44 1635 691702 number to an international operator to opt out of 50 euros threshold and SMS alerts.

Which EU countries are affected by these changes?

There are 27 EU Member States:

The Regulation will be also adopted in -
Andorra, Azores/Madeira (part of Portugal), Canary Islands / Ceuta / Melilla (part of Spain),Gibraltar (part of UK), Guernsey, Iceland, Isle of Man, Jersey, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, San Marino, Switzerland and Vatican City.

What do I have to do to benefit from the changes?

If you are a Voice, Blackberry, Mobile Broadband or Office Anywhere customer, there is nothing to do. We will automatically migrate you on to the new tariff / prices. All new customers will automatically benefit from the new reduced tariff.

Please note: If you are a Mobile Broadband customer, to receive an SMS when you are roaming which reminds you of the charges that come in to effect on 1^st July, please download the latest version of the BT Access Manager software(Version 85 and above).

We recommend you do this when you are in the UK over a Broadband connection. You can download the BT Access Manager software from www.bt.com/btam on or after 1^st July.

Alternatively from 8th July 2009, when you connect using BT Access Manager over a Broadband connection, you will be prompted to upgrade to the latest version of BT Access Manager software. Please follow the instructions and your software will be upgraded to allow you to receive this SMS alert in the future.

From July 2010 if you are planning to use your mobile in Europe and intend to spend more than 50 euros you will have the option of opting out of the 50 euros threshold limit by contact BT Customer services before you travel on national numbers provided or whilst you are travelling by contacting BT on +441635 6917021 (free from a BT Mobile) for further pricing information when in the EU.

For more information about our products, please visit www.bt.com/business/mobile.

For further details, please see our FAQs.