Roaming

Roaming, as defined by the GSM Association, is “the ability for a cellular customer to automatically make and receive voice calls, send and receive data, or access other services, including home data services, when traveling outside the geographical coverage area of the home network, by means of using a visited network.

On July 1 2010, European Union mobile roaming tariffs regulationcame into force cutting retail voice, retail SMS and wholesale data charges across the EU. The renewed Regulation foresees the following:

• Prices for mobile roaming calls reduced further with a maximum tariff of €0.39 per minute for calls made and €0.15 per minute for calls received.
• The price for sending a text message while roaming in the EU is still limited to a maximum of €0.11. Receiving an SMS in another EU country is free of charge.
• Operators are obliged to use per second billing after the first 30 seconds for roamed calls made and immediately for roamed calls received.
• Operators will have to impose a monthly default cut-off for data roaming of €50 approximately. Consumers can also select a different cut-off limit or opt out of this bill shock safeguard entirely.
• Operators are obliged to send users a warning whey they reach 80% of their data-roaming bill limit. The operator will have to cut off the mobile internet connection once the limit has been reached, unless the customer has indicated they want to continue data roaming.

Wholesale roaming services in Lithuania offer Bitė Lietuva, Omnitel and Tele2, so foreign citizens visiting Lithuania will be connected into network through one of the abovementioned operators.

Retail services are provided by operators and service providers listed below (please click on links for further information on roaming services and prices):

When you arrive overseas, take these steps to lower your roaming bills:

• Limit (if available) the phone calls you make and receive.
• Use Text Messaging (SMS) service instead of short voice calls while roaming. Usually, the cost for SMS is less than a voice call.
• When checking emails, do not open large attachments and do not send large attachments.
• Use free WiFi wherever possible instead of sending and receiving data through the host carrier‘s network.
• Limit your use of broadband data cards/USB modems for your laptop. These devices use much more data than a cell phone.
• Check whether your automatic software update or automatic download mail is on, because even a small volume of internet traffic in roaming can be expensive.

• Before you trip write down your PIN (Personal Identity Number) and PUK (Pin Unblocking Key) security codes in case you need them, as well as a number of your operator’s Contact center.
• Convert and save the numbers in your phonebook in international form.
• If your handset is stolen, lost or you have any problem with phone while you are abroad, contact immediately your operator’s Contact center.
• Please be informed about local laws that refer to the use of mobile handsets while in traffic, in public places, in aircrafts, etc.