British soldiers stationed overseas will be able to use their phones to contact loved ones for free if they are on Vodafone after the phone network said it would grant members of the armed forces free roaming.
It comes as new research reveals that more than half of our military personnel restrict contact with loved ones when they are stationed abroad because they can’t afford it.
Two-thirds said they suffer emotionally from being cut off from those at home.
Royal Navy technician James Connolly, 25, from Plymouth, praised the company for making the offer.
The sailor, who is regularly posted to European destinations, said high roaming charges often stop him from calling home.
He said: ‘I pay £2 per day for roaming charges in most European destinations. This can become very expensive if I’m away for three weeks at a time.’
He added: ‘The most I had to pay was £60 a month just for mobile data in Norway, it was crazy.
‘It’s at times like these that I feel disconnected from my partner, friends and family due to the unavailability of a mobile network.’
A major phone network has unveiled a groundbreaking offer that will be game changing for British soldiers stationed abroad. Royal Navy technician James Connolly (pictured), praised Vodafone for making the offer
The sailor, 25, from Plymouth is regularly posted to European destinations and says high roaming charges often mean he avoids calling home
James said he has missed out on important family moments – including news of his grandmother’s poor health – because of bad connection.
He said: ‘The worst time was during a six-week detachment on the aircraft carrier last year, when my family tried to tell me about my grandma, who had become unwell.’
‘Unfortunately, due to the lack of mobile signal, they couldn’t reach me through a telephone call.
‘Nobody wants to receive bad news while they’re on exercise – especially through a delayed text – but sometimes this is the only viable way of staying informed. It’s a moment that I still think about.’
Vodafone’s global roaming coverage includes over 80 destinations worldwide, ensuring personnel can stay connected whether stationed in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, or beyond.
International roaming charges are often more expensive because they cover the costs of accessing and maintaining secure, reliable mobile networks abroad.
It means potentially high charges to use a mobile from many of the places British troops are likely to be stationed.
James admits he has missed out on some key family moments and even missed a phone call about a grandmother’s poor health due to poor connectivity
He said: ‘I pay £2 per day for roaming charges in most European destinations. This can become very expensive if I’m away for three weeks at a time’
For instance, a 1hour call from USA, Canada or Kenya could cost £144, and for places like Germany, Gibraltar, Norway, Cyprus and Estonia it would be £36.
Vodafone stands is the only UK telecommunications provider offering complimentary global roaming for armed forces personnel.
Those who take out a new Vodafone Unlimited Airtime Plan with a mobile device and more than 1GB data allowance benefit from an exclusive 25% discount on their monthly airtime, effectively waiving roaming charges in a wide selection of eligible destinations.
This means service members can use their UK data, minutes and texts abroad at no extra cost, ensuring they remain in close contact with loved ones while on deployment, free from the worry of unexpected roaming bills.
Steve Knibbs, Director, Vodafone Business Security Enhanced (VBSE), said: ‘We at Vodafone know what a magnificent job the men and women of our armed forces do for this country and the sacrifices they make on our behalf.
‘We are proud to announce we are helping them in this small way – especially at this time of the year when Remembrance Day is at the forefront of our thoughts.
‘Our research findings highlight just how essential it is for service personnel to stay connected with their families – not just for morale, but for their emotional wellbeing as well.’
Being able to stay in regular communication with family and friends ranked as the number one concern in the first 100 days of deployment for military personnel – above operational readiness and personal safety.
Other key findings from Vodafone’s research which polled 500 active armed forces personnel include:
68% have experienced emotional difficulty due to lack of contact with loved ones.
58% indicated that regular access to mobile or broadband to keep in touch with family and friends was ‘extremely important’ to them.
Additionally, fewer than half of service personnel – only 43% – reported being able to communicate daily with their family and friends.
Among those who managed to keep in touch, text messaging emerged as the most common method, used by 75% of respondents. 46% stated that staying in touch with their loved ones was ‘vitally important’ to supporting their mental wellbeing.
