abroadband: One Standard Tariff Across 50 Countries - Mobile Internet Access Worldwide
59 cents per MB across more than 50 countries* worldwide
High-speed mobile Internet access when traveling abroad: 80% cheaper than conventional roaming tariffs
Simple and safe: Internet access just one click away, no minimum contract term, no monthly rental, cost control in real time
Barcelona, February 16, 2011: The Telekom Austria Group is taking a major step towards the Global Village with the launch of a new international data roaming tariff, “abroadband“. The new product will allow customers to surf the net with their laptops, netbooks, tablets or smartphones in more than 50 countries around the world at a standard price of 59 cents per MB, regardless of their mobile provider. From now on, both leisure and business travelers will benefit from high-speed mobile Internet access with downloading rates of up to 7.2 Mbps along with guaranteed cost security, saving up to 80% compared to conventional roaming tariffs.
“The Telekom Austria Group provides comprehensive telecommunications solutions tailored to the specific needs of our customers. With ‘abroadband’ we are enabling both business and leisure travelers to be online for the first time at a standard and cheap tariff worldwide,” said Hannes Ametsreiter, CEO Telekom Austria Group. He also added: “Numerous surveys have demonstrated the crucial role played by mobile living and mobile working. Without Internet access, 50% of Austrian users ‘feel cut off from the outside world’ and consider their communications possibilities as significantly restricted.”**
Going online with just one click!
As a first step, surfing the net with “abroadband” will be possible in more than 50 countries around the world. This tariff will be commercially available in the online shop at www.abroadband.com. Subscription will be initially limited to 27 EU countries (including Switzerland) and customers will be given the possibility to pay via American Express, Diners, MasterCard, Visa and PayPal. In the near future, “abroadband“ will also be sold in more than 50 countries around the world, including countries outside Europe, as well as in selected partner stores at the airports, on airplanes and at travel expos. Customers will have the possibility to choose their own “abroadband” package according to their specific needs: this might include a SIM card, a Micro SIM card and/or a USB Modem Box (including SIM card). The price will range between EUR 19.90 for a SIM card or a Micro SIM card and EUR 49.90 for a USB Modem Box.
Following a plug&play service installation, customers will be able to register online, activate their account and start surfing the net straight away. With “abroadband”, leisure travelers will be able to keep in touch with their social networks, surf the web and upload or download documents and pictures without worrying about any additional costs. Business customers signing up to this new international tariff scheme will save time and money benefitting from high-speed mobile Internet access anytime and anywhere around the world. They will administer their data online, retrieve online bills and monitor their consumption patterns and incurred costs in real time. Furthermore, a customer “abroadband” service line will be available worldwide at +43 6888 4000, Monday to Friday between 9 am and 5 pm (CET) to answer any customer queries.
Advantages for “abroadband” customers at a glance:
59 cents per MB in 53 countries worldwide with more than 77 mobile providers
High-speed Internet with download speeds of up to 7.2 Mbps
Enhanced privacy protection and data security due to independence from public WLAN
Cost control with Real Time Cost Manager
No minimum contract term – contracts can be cancelled at anytime
No monthly rental – only incurred costs are billed
Convenient payment solution via American Express, Diners, MasterCard, Visa or PayPal
Recent study on Internet usage abroad
The importance of internet usage abroad for travellers from Austria, Germany and UK has been subject of a study conducted by GfK Austria for the Telekom Austria Group. The results are available on: http://www.telekomaustria.com/presse/news/2011/0216-survey-mobile-internet.php
*”abroadband” is available in the following countries: Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Croatia, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Eastland, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Ireland, Island, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Malaysia, Malta, Macedonia, Moldavia, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, South Africa, Czech Republic, Turkey, UK, USA.
**Benchmark study about media usage: online survey carried out by the market research institute GfK Austria on behalf of the Telekom Austria Group in August 2010 among 500 Internet users in Austria, Croatia and Slovenia respectively.
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About Telekom Austria Group:
The Telekom Austria Group, listed on the Vienna Stock Exchange since November 2000, is the leading telecommunications provider in Central and Eastern Europe with roughly 22 million customers across its markets of operations. The Group is currently operating in eight countries: in Austria (with the newly merged A1 Telekom Austria), Slovenia (Si.mobil), Croatia (Vipnet), the Republics of Serbia (Vip mobile) and Macedonia (Vip operator), Bulgaria (Mobiltel), Belarus (Velcom) and Liechtenstein (mobilkom liechtenstein). The total market of the eight countries covers about 41 million inhabitants. The Group has more than 16,500 employees, revenues were EUR 4.8 billion as of year-end 2009. Telekom Austria Group’s portfolio encompasses products and services of voice telephony, broadband Internet, multimedia services, data and IT solutions, wholesale as well as m-payment solutions. More detailed information is available at http://www.telekomaustria.com/
Contact:
Elisabeth Mattes, Director Corporate Communications and Spokeswoman, Telekom Austria Group
mobile: +43 664 6639187, email: elisabeth.mattes@telekomaustria.com