Over 40 Latin American operators are forming an alliance to address the issue of visibility of data roaming charges. Between its constituent members, the consortium covers over half a billion mobile subscribers.
The data roaming transparency initiative is aimed at providing “greater visibility of [subscribers’] roaming charges and usage of mobile data services when travelling within the region and abroad.” Among the operators involved in the scheme are América Móvil, Antel, Entel Chile, Millicom, Oi, Orange, Telecom Italia and Telefónica.
Some of the measures to prevent what has become known as ‘bill shock’ will include the imposition of a monthly limit on data spending; messages alerting customers to a change in their tariff when they enter another country; warning messages if they are approaching the limit of their data spend; and blocking data use after the limit is passed.
These systems will be implemented by every operator in the group by the start of Q3 2013. Sebastian Cabello, Director of GSMA Latin America, said: “This is an important initiative and the second recently undertaken by MNOs in in the region, following on from a commitment to combat mobile phone theft earlier this year. MNOs are acting proactively in order to address customers’ needs to both ensure increased transparency of services and maintain the security of consumers’ information and data.”
