Cellular operators’ rip-off scheme

Although disgusting, given the nature of the costs its clear that it'll never be close to local charges, markup aside. So just get a local SIM, a little MiFi thing and continue browsing as usual!
 
It can't be that difficult to make a dual sim smartphone that can take care of tbis ripoff?
 
When it comes to the high roaming rates in South Africa, Vodacom blames the international operators.
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Can Vodacom please state what they charge foreign operators and what the foreign operators charge their customers?
Then we can see who is to blame:D
 
It's not always practical to "just get a local SIM", especially if you need to be available on your number.

This practice is utterly disgusting, and I would go so far as to call it outright FRAUD. And don't complain about how it's the other overseas networks when it is clear that you do it yourselves.

I'm glad I don't work for one of these operators, I would be so embarrassed to be associated with criminals.
 
Knott-Craig has sound advice for international travels. “Most travellers in South Africa use our prepaid products which offer them the same low rates as our own customers, which as you know are the lowest in South Africa,” said Knott-Craig.
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Is that legal in terms of RICA, does an international traveller need to provide proof of residence to get a new prepaid SIM RICA registered?

Do international travel agents inform visitors to South Africa that they need to bring their utility bills with them if they want temporary Internet connectivity using a South African SIM?
 
garp said:
It's not always practical to "just get a local SIM", especially if you need to be available on your number.
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Use your old SIM to unconditionally call forward to your new SIM.

I've done this and it works very well.

Only issue is you can't SMS forward.

For BB users, you will not be able to to use data (email,bbm,internet) as BB security does not like you to change SIM.
 
It's just like termination rates, the operators work together in setting these ridiculous charges because .. well they can.
 
Just buy a sim in the other country. Easy as that. Know what your data usage is going to be and just purchase the relevant amount. Why suffer and worry about roaming an all that junk. I work at a Vodacom 4u store and I tell all my clients to rather do that. Roaming is a rip off in its entirety. It's all a money making scheme buy networks.
 
I'm going to the USA in three weeks time. I have learnt that my phone will be pretty much useless over there due to the different broadcast frequencies used over there. Would only be able to work with wifi in hotels etc. I'm now considering a buying a US sim, pay as you go and some cheapie cellphone over there. Anybody knows whether they have RICA or something similar in the States?
 
Disgusting costs. Out of this world. People are being nailed left right and center for nothing, and there's nothing they can do. Needs to be changed asap.
 
Use wifi
But true, our Service providers only charge what they being charged by the visiting country.
Atleast voice prices are cheaper?
 
Oh, so you bought that Super-Duper-BlackBerry-Businessman-Business-Phone-That-Makes-You-Look-Like-A-Pro? Well guess what, BIS doesn't include roaming, so you will have to pay those exorbitant fees on top of your subscription.

Enjoy.
 
The DoC should really get on to this issue and set a precedent. For starters make sure local companies can't rip off international roaming clients, they should not have to pay more than the standard exorbitant OOB fees we have here as it is. Then they should start applying some political pressure to foreign govs to implement the same thing on their side. In fact SA should lobby BRICS and the AU for starters on this issue, it would be a great place to start opening doors for symbiotic business cooperation.
 
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