Hundreds of thousands of Australian travellers will be forced to pay up to five times more for answering an international call on their mobile phone whilst overseas.

Telstra has begun notifying travellers among its 15.3 million mobile subscribers about changes to international roaming rates.

Calls abroad: Telstra subscribers travelling overseas can expect steep international roaming rates. Credit:Fairfax Graphics

It trumpets as a victory for consumers changes that will mean identical call charges regardless of making or receiving calls overseas.

But a closer inspection of the new price schedule reveals that from March 24, globetrotters will be billed between 100 per cent and 500 per cent extra whenever they accept international calls in more than 180 countries worldwide.