If you think your cell phone bill is high, try moving to New Zealand. According to a recent survey by the Kiwis’ Commerce Commission, New Zealanders are paying for some of the most expensive cell phone plans in the world.
Due to a network duopoly between service providers Vodafone and Telecom, the typical New Zealander pays between 23% and 46% more than the average price of a cell phone plan in OECD member countries (including the US, UK and Australia, among others).
In fact, Telecom’s Flexi Anytime plan is the most expensive mobile phone plan of any member country—which may just make it the most expensive cell phone plan in the world—at 177% of the average. Users of this plan can expect to pay 189.50 NZD (about $102 US) for their first 450 minutes. Compare this to the $39.99 price of the average 450-minute plan in the US.
The Commerce Commission does warn, however, that their report should only be taken as an indicator as it doesn’t include several recently introduced budget plans.
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
Yeah, us New Zealanders are sick of the Duopoly and I can tell you now that the new budget plans are still very expensive per min.
Yeah us NZers now have a third major communications company called 2degress who are offering over half the price of the other 2′s calling plans
Yeah 2degrees is one of the CHEAPEST in the world looks like we have both the most Expensive and the Cheapest
I live in South Africa, and our sevices that we are offered by any of the three cellular providers are more expensive than New Zealand
i think it still doesnt make sense for one to buy such an extravagant cellphone whilst the world over we have millions of hungry children.
@2degrees lover sorry mate but 2 Degrees is NO WHERE NEAR one of the cheapest plans in the world.
In Lebanon, It costs 162 dollars per 450 minutes.
Try moving to Japan. I pay over $60 a month for 60 minutes of talk time. After that, every 30 seconds costs 20 cents. If I wanted to talk for 450 minutes on my current plan, which would be foolish, I'd have to pay $216