Customers will also enjoy "similar rates" to those they're charged at home to make calls and access data services in those countries, a statement announcing the new rates said.

That isn't necessarily a good thing. Three's basic data rate plans are amongst the cheapest on the Australian market, with its top-level plan allowing two gigabytes of data for just $69 a month.

However, because 3 is now competing with former partner Telstra after the latter built its Next G network, it is forced to charge a premium rate of $1.65 a megabyte if you travel outside 3's own network area (largely restricted to capital cities) and roam onto a GSM network. There's a tiny allowance of free access, but at 6 megabytes on the priciest plan, it wouldn't take long to chew through. That means not only are you paying more for the service, you're getting less speed -- an unattractive combination.
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