WARNING - Cost of mobile telecommunications whilst travelling to Ukraine/Poland for the Euro2012

Are you going to the Euro 2012? If so you may want to read this post or else pay the price of Mobile Extortion!

I thought it was important to warn you re. the telecom costs whilst travelling to the Ukraine and Poland.

Please feel free to pass the information below to others as you see fit.

Voice:

·         In Poland, mobile phone prices are regulated by the European Union. The maximum you will pay for receiving calls there is 0.11€ / min, and for placing calls to any EU country including your own is 0.35€ / min.

·         In Ukraine, however, mobile phone prices are not regulated and prices are thus a lot higher. In general, receiving calls will cost as high as 0.5€ / min and placing calls as high as 1.5€ / min.

Data:

·         Similarly, data roaming prices are “controlled” in Poland and are very often part of your “data bundle” for your blackberry. In Ukraine, they are significantly higher.

For those reasons, and in particular when going to Ukraine, it is advisable for you to follow these simple guidelines :

·         Always use an office phone or a desk phone for making long calls

·         Whenever possible,  indicate to your partners to call you rather than you calling them

·         If you are meant to spend a long time in the country, renting a local cell phone is an option to consider

·         Turn off data roaming in your blackberry if you don’t need it

VIVA FOOTBALL!