Regional call rates to drop with new rules for mobile operators

Mobile telephony firms in East Africa will be required to inform their subscribers the rate of receiving and making calls on their networks outside their home countries through text upon crossing borders.

The telecoms regulators have prepared the new rules to end the high charges East Africans face when using their phones outside their home countries.

Presently, the operators do not inform subscribers of their tariffs, exposing consumers to shocking bills.

Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK) says the review is aimed at lowering roaming charges and empowers consumers.

“Providing these choices will encourage competition and may exert pressure on mobile operators to offer lower prices,” said CCK in its communication to the operators.

This means that Safaricom, Airtel, Telkom Kenya Orange and Essar will have to provide their subscribers with roaming rates agreed on with other regional operators such as MTN, Tigo or Vodacom Tanzania.

Roaming is the service that enables a mobile phone customer, while outside the geographical coverage area of their home network, to access the portfolio of services they subscribe to while at home.

Subscribers are charged for calling and receiving calls as well as enjoy short message service (SMS), but Kenyan operators do not charge subscribers for receiving calls from their networks while in other regional countries.

Presently, the operators disclose the charges on their websites, but now they will be required to notify their subscribers through SMS upon crossing their border to neighbouring countries.

The CCK says the regulations are the product of resolutions passed by the regional l telecoms regulators under the East African Communications Organisations (EACO).

This comes amid increased travel in the region with the formation of the East Africa common market that allows free movement of capital, goods and people in member states.

This has prompted increased travel across the region, which has increased the share of roaming revenues to the mobile telephony operators, especially Safaricom.

Airtel, which has operations in Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya, does not charge subscribers roaming rates in the three markets, but Safaricom has inked deals with regional operators including with MTN Uganda, Uganda Telkom, Vodacom Tanzania and MTN Rwanda.

Safaricom subscribers are charged between Sh27.50 and Sh18.50 for making calls to their network from the regional states and between Sh4 and Sh5.50 for text messages, according to a tariff guide on its website.

Introduction of transparency in roaming charges is expected to help consumers pick more affordable rates and increase competition among the regional telcos.