Vodafone pledges $5/day roaming to remain after $11 billion TPG merger

Vodafone has promised that its popular $5/day global roaming deal will remain after the proposed merger with broadband telco TPG.

That merger would create a company worth as much as A$10.9 billion with the "scale and financial strength to compete more effectively" with Telstra and Optus, Vodafone Hutchison Australia said in a statement.

"We’re very excited about the future, but for the moment, nothing changes for our customers," stressed VHA Chief Commercial Officer Ben McIntosh. "They can continue to enjoy all the things they love about us including $5 Roaming, no lock-in handset contracts, 35-day prepaid expiry, and NBN Instant Connect and 4G Backup."

"If the merger is approved, it will create even more opportunities for us as a combined entity to drive value for Australian consumers."

Vodafone Hutchison’s current boss Inaki Berroeta will be the chief executive officer, while TPG Telecom’s chief executive David Teoh will become chairman of the new entity, described as “a merger of equals" which would see shareholdings split evenly between the two telcos.

The new company, to be called TPG Telecom, would unite TPG – best known locally for its fixed-line broadband services, although it has also been working to build its own CBD-based 4G mobile network – with the almost 6 million mobile customers of Vodafone Hutchison, which ranks as Australia’s third-largest mobile operator.