Salt Raises Its International Call and SMS Prices Again

On March 10, 2023, Salt implemented new Standard rates for incoming calls and for calls from Switzerland to other countries. The price increases affect both new and existing customers.

The new rates apply to all customers whose mobile plans do not include international allowances for the country in question. That means Salt customers whose mobile plans include allowances for the country they are traveling in or calling are not affected by these price increases.

Higher prices for incoming calls

When you receive a phone call while roaming outside of Switzerland, your mobile service provider charges a per-minute fee for the call. Now Salt is raising these standard rates again. Depending on the country in which you are receiving the call, the price increase is between 37 and 67 percent.

Table 1: Salt prices for incoming calls while roaming

Salt has already raised its prices for incoming calls many times in the past. When Salt launched in Switzerland in 2015, the fees were between 60 and 80 centimes, depending on the EU country. So Salt’s prices for receiving incoming calls while roaming in EU countries have gone up by 232 percent and 274 percent respectively.

In this regard, Salt is also very expensive compared to other service providers. Customers of Swisscom, which is generally seen as an expensive service provider, pay 40 centimes per minute to receive calls from an EU country while roaming. That is five to seven times less than the Salt fees of up to 3 francs, depending on the country. Outside of the EU, Swisscom is also much cheaper than Salt in this regard. Receiving calls while roaming in Albania costs 1.50 francs per minute, compared to 5 francs per minute with Salt.

Price increases for SMS messages outside of Switzerland

Sending SMS messages while roaming now costs 99 centimes per SMS. Up until now, sending SMS messages in the Europe and Travel zones cost 79 centimes per SMS. That translates into a 25-percent price increase. Sending an SMS message while roaming in the World or Far zones still costs 99 centimes, as before.

Price increases for international phone calls

When you make calls from Switzerland to other countries, mobile service providers charge you a per-minute fee for the international phone call.

Table 2: Salt prices for international phone calls

Salt has already raised its prices for international phone calls in the past.

What can affected customers do?

If you regularly receive calls while roaming in certain countries, or if you frequently make calls to specific countries, you should look for a mobile plan that has inclusive allowances that match your needs. Many mobile plans include allowances for certain countries. Make sure to pay attention to the total costs. Using messaging services like Whatsapp that let you call without additional fees can be an alternative to conventional phone calls.

Many service providers advertise mobile plans that include roaming allowances. The problem is that getting a mobile plan that includes roaming for a certain country does not pay off if you only travel to that country occasionally. In that case, you should stick with a mobile plan for Switzerland. You can get a local SIM card at your destination or use an eSIM with affordable rates for that country. Another option is to move to a mobile service provider that offers a more affordable roaming solution for your holidays.

Conclusion by moneyland.ch telecom expert Ralf Beyeler

Unfortunately, Salt has raised its standard rates once again. For both Salt and Sunrise, standard rates are a good opportunity to earn money. Customers who end up paying standard rates are often those who have not properly informed themselves about the service, and simply make calls or get online without a second thought. According to statistics published by the Federal Office of Communications, nearly one-third of all consumers who used mobile roaming paid the standard rates.

As a phone user, you should make sure to set a clear limit for roaming in order to avoid receiving very high phone bills. Getting caught in cost pitfalls is easier than you might think, as this example shows: You are on the beach in Croatia and you answer a phone call. After a one-hour conversation on the phone, your phone bill would be 179.40 francs higher. If you use Swisscom, on the other hand, the same phone call would cost you 24 francs.

As a general rule, any price increase should be seen as an opportunity to review the products you use. Does your current mobile plan adequately cover your needs? Or are there cheaper mobile plans for your needs? Take time to compare the current market offers, and be ready to migrate if you find a better offer.

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