Virgin Slash Data Costs 20.5c MB

Telco has just chopped its data costs as the battle to grab mobile users intensifies
Virgin has reduced its excess data rate for postpaid mobile customers to 20.5c per MB, meaning if customers exceed data limits the bill shock may not be as great.

However, Virgin arestill billing data per kilobyte, meaning every KB over a user’s data allowance will cost 0.02c and said “we think it’s only fair to lower our excess data rates to reflect the increasing use of smartphones in Australia.”

Virgin says its 20.5c/MB, is “one of the lowest rates in the market”, announcing the move on a user community forum.

And they’re right.

Telstra and Vodafone charge 25c for excess data, while Optus who actually own Virgin charge 50c. The telco also hint theres’s “a raft”  of more cost saving changes to come.

Virgin MyAccount system has not been updated yet so during May customers who go over their limit and check the excess data meter will see a higher excess dollar amount than what they’re actually being charged on the bill, although this will be corrected by June 1st.

“If you tend to consume more data than what is included in your monthly plan, we would suggest a data value add,” the telco said.

Virgin Mobile customers can also alter their data value adds on a month-to-month basis; if one month is likely to be a heavier month for data consumption, a value add-on would be suggested.

“We call our data value-adds a safety net and, for as little as $5, it’s a reassurance you can’t afford to miss.”