3 Group announces new pricing policy, cutting the cost of international roaming on the 3 networks

January 17, 2007

3 Group announced the introduction of "3 Like Home". This is a pricing policy that will permit 3 customers to travel abroad and use other 3 Group networks for a price similar to that on their home 3 network.

When 3 customers travel to another country in which 3 also operates, customers will be able to make and receive calls using the visited 3 network and be charged as if they were still using their home network. The same principle will apply to SMS, MMS, video calling and data services. The visited 3 network can be considered a virtual extension of their home network and can therefore be used as if the customer were not roaming at all.

"3 Like Home" reflects the 3 Group's strategy of giving customers fair and transparent treatment and attractive pricing, and will help to increase its base of customers that travel abroad. It will also allow many customers to make wider use of the recently launched X-Series product suite which offers mobile broadband for a flat rate fee.

"3 Like Home" is consistent with the European Commission's campaign to reduce the cost of mobile calls when roaming in Europe.

Christian Salbaing, Managing Director of European Telecommunications at 3 Group said:

"The launch of the '3 Like Home' scheme will significantly benefit our customers as they travel between the 3 Group's networks. It underlines our commitment to fair treatment and reasonable pricing for all our customers.

"While 3 customers will continue to face higher charges if they roam onto a non-3 network, this is because of the high wholesale charges required by many of 3's roaming partners. We hope the European Commission will be successful in significantly reducing these wholesale charges, which will allow price reductions for customers roaming between different operators within Europe."

"3 Like Home" is being introduced progressively for customers of 3 in Australia, Austria, Denmark, Hong Kong, Italy, the Republic of Ireland, Sweden and the UK. The rollout will be tailored to specific market conditions in each 3 country and exact pricing details will become available as implemented.