Press release

As the first Slovak mobile operator, O2 introduces per-second charging after the first 30 seconds of roaming calls in all tariff zones. At the same time maximum prices of roaming mobile phone calls made within EU are going to be decreased as well. However, since January 2009 O2 clients have been able to call within the European countries for the price of EUR 0.50 incl. VAT. It is a better price than the maximum price of made phone calls, EUR 0.51 incl. VAT (EUR 0.43 excl. VAT), set by the regulatory body in the whole EU since July. All clients using O2 Fér service will pay the same prices regardless of payment form.

"O2 keeps looking for ways to enable its customers to call for better prices even abroad. The fact that we did not wait for EU price regulation and our customers have made their phone calls in roaming cheaper since January 2009 just proves that. Introduction of per-second charging after the first 30 seconds of a phone call, which has been extended to all tariff zones, will bring significant savings to our customers. It means that our clients can also call for better prices from summer destinations, which are not part of EU, such as Croatia, Turkey or Egypt," said René Parák, spokesperson and media relations manager at O2.

Advantageous roaming in the entire EU

O2 with its new charging of roaming calls exceeds the framework of the European Commission regulation, which introduces the obligation of per-second charging after the first 30 seconds of a roaming call in the EU countries. In accordance with estimations carried out by the European Commission, such charging change should bring the customers the savings of about 20%. Price of incoming calls abroad should be decreased to EUR 0.22 incl. VAT (EUR 0.18 excl. VAT), which is less than EU requires. Price of sent SMS messages in EU countries should decrease to EUR 0.13 incl. VAT (EUR 0.11 excl. VAT). Good news for all O2 customers who also use mobile Internet during their vacation is significant decrease of prices of data roaming within EU from EUR 9.958 / 1MB to EUR 2 / 1 MB. Another benefit for O2 clients is also the fact they do not have to pay any useless activation fees. Roaming for all customers who top up their credit is activated automatically. Those customers who pay for services in form of invoice can have their roaming including data roaming activated upon request and free of any charge. All O2 Fér customers make their phone calls in roaming for the same prices regardless of payment form. New price list of O2 roaming services should become valid as of July 1st, 2009.

More partners also for customers of pre-paid services

Those customers who pay for operator's services by credit top-up currently use services of as many as 53 operators in 37 countries. List of roaming countries also includes the most favorite summer destinations, such as Bulgaria, Egypt, France, Greece, Italy, Spain or Croatia. Those customers who pay for services in form of invoice can use roaming services with as many as 127 operators in 74 countries. Each customer may verify whether he/she has active roaming service; all he/she needs to do is to call number 949 or to visit the closest O2 branch. From abroad customers can call free number +421 949 949 989 and learn about the actual roaming prices. This number also enables the customers to talk to an operator. The up-to-date list of roaming partners may be found on website http://www.sk.o2.com/ludia/nase-sluzby/roaming.html. On this website the customers may also find information about signal coverage by O2 roaming partners.

Customer only pays for calls that were actually made

Moreover, O2 Fér offer is also advantageous for all those who call less during their vacation. It is because they do not have to pay expensive monthly plan, which includes minutes and services they do not actually use during their vacation. O2 Fér customers only pay for calls that were actually made. So if during their summer vacation abroad or in Slovakia they use their mobile phone less than they usually do, they save money.

Price unification outside EU

New price list also brings around price unification of incoming as well as outgoing calls in roaming zones outside EU including roaming on board of airplanes of selected airlines. For one minute of a phone call made within the European countries, which are not members of EU a customer pays € 1.70, in other world countries € 2.50 and in case of phone calls made from airplanes (OnAir) during the flight and to satellite networks € 2.70 (all prices include VAT). O2 also introduces per-second charging after the first 30 seconds in those zones.

Telefónica O2 Slovakia – Contacts

RENÉ PARÁK
Media Relations Manager – Spokesperson
Telefónica O2 Slovakia s.r.o.
rene.parak@o2.com
m +421 949 02 00 12 

PETER STACH
Senior Account Manager
AMI Communications Slovakia, spol. s r.o.
peter.stach@amic.sk
m +421 948 88 47 86

All press releases of Telefónica O2 Slovakia may be found on our web site: www.sk.o2.com.

About Telefónica O2 Slovakia, s.r.o.

Telefónica O2 Slovakia entered the Slovak market of mobile operators by a decision of the selection committee of the Telecommunications Office of SR of August 25th, 2006. The license includes rights of using frequencies of GSM 900 MHz, GSM 1800 MHz, UMTS and 28/29 GHz for the period of 20 years in order to provide telecommunication services in the Slovak Republic. The company launched itch commercial operation on February 2nd, 2007. Gradually the company is introducing its offer for whole range of user segments. Within the international group of Telefónica, Telefónica O2 Slovakia belongs to Telefónica Europe group.

About company Telefónica Europe

Telefónica Europe includes operators of mobile networks in Great Britain and Ireland as well as integrated operators of fixed and mobile networks in Germany and the Czech Republic. All those operators are presented to their residential customers under Telefónica brand. Telefónica Europe owns 50% of shares of joint ventures Tesco Mobile in Great Britain and Tchibo Mobilfunk in Germany. At the same time the company is 100% owner of Be Company, the leading provider of broadband services in Great Britain. The group includes also operator of fixed and mobile services on island Man – Manx Telecom.
Telefónica Europe belonging to Telefónica group has its seat in Slought of Great Britain and has about 43 million customers of fixed and mobile services.

About company Telefónica

In terms of market capitalization Telefónica is one of the biggest telecommunication companies in the world. Its business activities concentrate mainly on fixed and mobile telephony markets, while it considers broadband connection as the key to development of both mentioned markets. Company operates in 25 countries on a significant scale and has more than 260 million customers. Strategy of Telefónica Company concentrates in markets in which it has strong representation: Spain, Europe and Latin America. Telefónica is a company which is up to 100% privately owned and its share are traded on the stock exchanges in Madrid as well as other and there are more than 1.5 million direct shareholders.

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