Vodafone says no to NZ roaming charge cuts

Vodafone Australia will not permanently reduce the price of data roaming for customers travelling to New Zealand, winding up a three-month trial yesterday.

The telco had slashed the cost of roaming from $10 to $2 a megabyte in November last year.

At the time of the announcement, Vodafone indicated that the trial could be a precursor to permanent data roaming price cuts for travellers visiting New Zealand.

But the price cut has been discontinued without that permanent change occuring.

A spokesman told iTnews that jetsetting customers that wanted cheaper roaming rates should buy one of the carrier's roaming data bundles - essentially data packs for 50 networks internationally.

The packs ranged from a "light" plan ($49 a month for 25 MB) to 200 MB of international data for $329 a month.

"International travellers can data roam to 50 popular overseas destinations, including New Zealand, for as low as $1.65/MB by taking up the Vodafone Roaming Data Bundle product," the spokesman said.

"Vodafone has also created a series of useful tips for customers who may be travelling overseas and want to economise and any international roaming costs."