

Unlike Vodafone's roaming data pack, Spark offers half of the countries and is very limited within Europe. If you go over the allowance, you pay 'casual rates', or purchase another roaming data pack. There is only one plan, the 'roaming data pack', which offers 1 GB of data which must be used within 7 days. Spark offers fixed-price roaming in around 35 countries around the world, which Spark calls 'Zone 2'. We observed that adding these does not significantly affect the cost of a plan, and in many cases, there is no difference in the overall price. We don't compare roaming data plans with minutes and SMS allowances. In this guide, we take a closer look at the pros and cons of roaming plans, and how they operate. And to confuse things more, roaming plans and allowances run on New Zealand time - so if you have a 7-day plan, it doesn't run out at 11:59pm in the country you are in, but 11:59pm New Zealand time. And, if you go beyond your roaming plan's allowance, you will be charged more. Firstly, many countries are not covered in each network's plan - so you will pay the 'casual' rate, which can be as high as $10 for 1 MB of data. However, things are getting better - Spark, Vodafone, 2degrees and Slingshot all offer fixed-price roaming plans which cover 20-70 countries, meaning you can use data without being uncertain of the cost.īut, while this sounds like good news, there are a number of ways the unfamiliar can get caught out and stung with a big bill. In the past, New Zealanders travelling overseas were charged a significantly higher rate for using their phone to make calls or use the internet. Roaming starts as soon as your phone connects to a network outside of New Zealand. The term ‘roaming' refers to using your phone while you're overseas. Before you decide on a roaming plan, ensure you understand the details of its pricing, coverage and limitations. Hit with a roaming bill and don't know what to do?ĭisclaimer: Roaming rates and country exclusions can change at any time - while we periodically keep this guide up to date, networks can adjust their prices, terms and conditions without notice, and we accept no liability for reliance placed on this guide.Mobile Data Roaming Frequently Asked Questions.

Roaming bill horrors.and 7 ways to avoid them happening to YOU.Roaming plans, top-ups and add-ons: We compare Spark, Vodafone, 2degrees and Slingshot Mobile.If you have been stung with a big bill, there is little you can do unless your phone was stolen (and then travel insurance may assist for unauthorised use).If in doubt, turn off your phone's data connection - you can't be charged or use up allowances if your phone isn't connected.We have some suggested networks below for some example destinations. Finding the right plan comes down to where you are going, and how long you are going for.The differences soon add up - if you're in Sweden, Vodafone offers 200 MB for $5, whereas Spark charges its customers $3 or $5 per MB. Plans offer different things, but overall, Vodafone offers flat-rate roaming in far more countries than Spark.Roaming plans have catches and pitfalls which can cost dearly - we explain what to watch out for in detail below.Knowing what countries are 'in the plan' is essential - data use can quickly become exorbitantly expensive. Roaming costs are falling, and affordable deals are offered by Spark, Vodafone and other networks to cover mobile data use in a number of countries.
