SA mobile roaming rates too high - survey

Cape Town –A survey done by online booking agency Travelstart, shows most South Africans are connected while travelling - but they desperately want cheaper roaming.  

Of the 4 000 travellers surveyed, 92% said the high costs of international roaming charges meted out by local network providers are too expensive according to Travelstart’s “cellphones in travel” research, released Thursday.

The survey weighed in on everything from travellers' favoured service provider and international roaming, to how they use their mobiles while travelling and flight mode.


(Travelstart.co.za)

When asked if they activate international roaming when going abroad, travellers are winning the war against excessive roaming fees by purchasing a local sim card at their destination (25%), only connecting using free Wi-Fi (21%) and activating SMS services only (19%). A further 7% say they prefer to switch off completely; however, 21% will activate all services when travelling abroad including voice calls, data and text messaging.

The survey homed in on how travellers are using their mobile phones overseas,

The survey homed in on how travellers are using their mobile phones overseas. Staying in touch (via voice call, SMS, instant messaging services and email) factored into the top eight most widespread uses, while social networking and photography were the second and third most common practices. 

“Mobile phones have opened the door for covert photography and more people are taking photos in public places than ever before. As a tourist you can assume its okay to take photographs in a public space unless it’s expressly signposted somewhere that you can't," said Travelstart spokesperson Russell Jarvis.
"Tourists should be sensitive and assess the environment before taking photographs. The general rule is that if you can see it you can shoot it.

“However, there are many exceptions to the rule; for example, photography on clearly marked private property can be considered trespassing, while some places, although public, it is not legal to take photos.”

The amount of passengers who don’t switch their switch cellphones off when they fly (2%), or just engage flight mode for the duration of the trip (28%), also stood out in the survey.

The South African Civil Aviation Authority restricts the use of cellphones in flight, with most local carriers allowing flight mode after takeoff and before landing only; otherwise the devices are required to be switched off completely.

Visit Travelstart.co.za for more details on their Cellphones in Travel survey.