Rogers to revolutionize U.S. wireless data roaming rates for Canadians

Cost and complexity of wireless roaming cited as top two barriers to
smartphone use while travelling;

New simplified roaming will encourage smartphone use while travelling
and give consumers peace of mind;

New roaming rates one of several new initiatives that respond to
customer feedback

TORONTO, Feb. 8, 2013 /CNW/ – Rogers Communications announced today it
will soon launch a new, more affordable, roaming rate for customers
travelling to the United States. Canadians travelling to the U.S. use
their wireless devices to go online more than in any other country, and
want to have access to simple and predictable roaming. Rogers will lead
the market with a new easy and worry-free roaming solution.

Coming this spring, the company is introducing a new $7.99 pay-per-use
roaming rate that gives customers access to 50 megabytes of data over a
24 hour period while travelling in the U.S. This new rate, available to
consumers and businesses, gives customers nearly twice the data that
they would typically use domestically. With 50 MB of data, customers
can view approximately 50 maps, 200 web pages, 1,000 emails or over
5,000 tweets. Customers will be alerted before reaching 50 MB which
means they will be able to control their roaming costs.

“Our customers have consistently told us they want certainty and peace
of mind when using their wireless devices to access the Internet while
travelling,” said Raj Doshi, Rogers Senior Vice President of Products.
“Canadians’ connected habits are evolving, and our new roaming model is
an important step in addressing the changing needs of our customers.
With this simple and affordable roaming rate, customers will be able to
use their devices while travelling just as they would at home.”

To help further enhance the customer experience, Rogers is also changing
its cellphone unlocking policy this March so that customers can unlock
their wireless phones as early as 90 days after activating their
devices on the Rogers network.

In addition, the company has recently introduced the following programs
and initiatives to help its customers:

• Simplified wireless rate plans, including unlimited text and voice,
  making it easier for customers to understand their plans.
• FLEXtab, a program that allows customers to pay off their device subsidy
  at any time.
• Rogers Device Protection and Rogers Anti-Theft, services that offer
  customers enhanced protection on their wireless device.
• Rogers TechXpert for wireless and Rogers TechXpert for high speed internet customers offering extended technical support,
  24/7
• Tech Essentials, a new education program to help consumers better understand how to use
  technology safely and smartly.

“These are just a few examples of steps we’re taking to continually
respond to customer feedback and to create a better experience for our
customers,” said Doshi. “We know Canadians want their wireless
experience to be simpler and easier…we’ve listened to their input on
the national wireless consumer code and we support having a single set
of wireless standards across the country to provide equal ease of use
for consumers from coast to coast.”

In March of 2012, Rogers led the industry and proposed a draft national
wireless consumer code to the CRTC. In early December 2012, Rogers
reaffirmed its support for a national wireless consumer code that will
lead to strong consumer ease of use standards that treat Canadians
equally. Today, different rules apply in different provinces when it
comes to contracts, cancellation policies, renewals and more. Having a
single set of standards across the country would make it easier for
customers to know what to expect from their service provider, no matter
where they live in Canada. 

Rogers will provide its view and looks forward to hearing more from
Canadians at the upcoming CRTC hearing starting February 11, 2013.

Planning to roam before the spring? Don’t worry, Rogers has got you
covered with our existing line-up of affordable and easy to use roaming
packs and passes. For more information, visit www.rogers.com/roaming.

About Rogers Communications:

Rogers Communications is a diversified Canadian communications and media
company. We are Canada’s largest provider of wireless voice and data
communications services and one of Canada’s leading providers of cable
television, high speed internet and telephony services. Through Rogers
Media we are engaged in radio and television broadcasting, televised
shopping, magazines and trade publications, sports entertainment, and
digital media. We are publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange
(TSX: RCI.A and RCI.B) and on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: RCI).
For further information about the Rogers group of companies, please
visit rogers.com.

SOURCE: Rogers Wireless and Cable