O2 announces new pre pay tariff to cut costs of roaming in Ireland

O2 UK today announced details of its new pre pay ‘Bolt On’ product which will significantly cut the costs customers in Northern Ireland pay when roaming onto O2 Ireland’s network in the Republic.   Customers who subscribe to the new ‘Bolt On’ will pay standard O2 UK pre pay rates when they roam on to O2 Ireland’s network to make a call or send a text message to Northern Ireland or elsewhere in the UK. It will also be free for pre pay customers to receive calls when roaming on O2 Ireland’s network.   As well as cutting costs when O2 UK customers travel in the Republic the new ‘Bolt On’ will also end the problem of ‘inadvertent roaming’ which affects some Northern Ireland customers who live near to the border with the Republic.   Russ Shaw, Marketing Director for O2 UK said “O2 UK is committed to providing our customers in Northern Ireland with great value tariffs and a network they can rely upon. The ‘Bolt On’ will enable our pre pay customers who travel to the Republic to enjoy standard UK rates when they make a call to Northern Ireland or elsewhere in the UK. And they will no longer be charged to receive a call. We are also pleased that the product will effectively end the problem of inadvertent roaming experienced by some of our customers who live or work near the border.”   O2 is the first UK operator to offer its pre pay customers a tariff that provides standard UK rates when they roam in the Republic and make a call to Northern Ireland. O2 is also the first UK operator to offer a tariff that makes it free for pre pay customers to receive a call when roaming in the Republic. The pre pay Ireland ‘Bolt On’, which will cost £1.99 a month, will be available from Tuesday 21st March. Customers will be able to register for the ‘Bolt On’ in O2 retail stores, on-line, over the phone or by texting IRELAND to 21300 for free from their mobile.   The launch of the pre pay ‘Bolt On’ follows the introduction last year of O2’s post pay ‘Bolt On’ which reduces the cost of making a call, receiving a call, or sending a text when roaming on O2 Ireland’s network. O2 also offers customers in Northern Ireland an additional ‘Bolt On’ product – International Caller – which reduces the cost of calling from Northern Ireland to the Republic of Ireland to 5p per minute to a fixed line or 25p per minute to an Irish mobile. This ‘Bolt On’ is available for a one off payment of £4.99.