Using social media while on holiday could cost as much as £800, according to research by mobile roaming charges specialist Tep
Social media ‘could push data roaming fees to £120 a day’
Keeping in touch through social media while on holiday could cost as much as £120 a day, mobile roaming charge specialist Tep claims.
The firm has calculated that smartphone users’ average daily data usage can climb from 10MB to between 40MB and 60MB when they use social media.
Over a ten-day holiday in Europe this could cost between £800 and £1,200, Tep said.
While the firm’s estimates may trigger debate – a 2011 report by Ofcom-approved mobile comparison site Billmonitor found that the average user gets through only 133MB of data per month, working out to around 5MB per day – its claims reflects growing concern about data roaming charges.
Tomas Mendoza, chief executive and Founder of Tep, said: “Smartphones have changed the way we keep in touch with each other.
“Holidaymakers want to post their holiday pictures to Facebook, or send emails to friends, but are being charged more than the cost of their holiday to do so.”
Tep has developed a pocket wifi device that it claims offers cheap access to 3G networks in 16 European countries for around £49.50 for a ten day period.
“Tep allows consumers to use their smartphones wherever they like at affordable prices,” Mendoza said.
“Smartphones are popular because they provide benefits to travellers, through their apps, maps, information about local culture, and also about sharing experiences with other people. Unlike the big mobile phone operators, Tep’s mobile wifi encourages and celebrates this,” he said.
“Travellers can save up to 90% on hotel internet charges alone by using the mobile wifi and they can stay connected to their laptop, smartphone or tablet.”
The Tep devices can be rented on the firm’s website and delivered to their home, their hotel or to the airport and are returned by post using a prepaid envelope. Tep vows to wipe all personal information from the device on return.
