Integration News
Traders relieved in the wake of no roaming charges
T
he move to harmonise calling rates by the East African Community (EAC) governments has been seen as a major step towards regional integration, especially by businesses in the region. So far, according to Patrick Nyirishema, the Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority (Rura) Director General, Kenyan, Ugandan and Rwandan telecoms have already scrapped off roaming fees. This is yet another step forward in deepening the integration agenda as countries move to ease communication among East African citizens as this would spur economic and social benefits. Though the deal is between Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya, the other two remaining countries, Tanzania and Burundi, are yet to join the project as this will see the roaming charges scrapped in all five countries. South Sudan is also set to join as the younger country tries to set up its communication regulatory body.
clients Rwf60 per minute for calls to any network in Kenya, and Uganda while Airtel Rwanda charges Rwf69 per minute and Tigo Rwanda subscribers now part with Rwf70 per minute, according to Pierre Kayitana, the firm’s public relations officer. All the telecoms’ subscribers will also receive calls free of charge while in Kenya and Uganda. The new rates show a reduction from an average of Rwf200 per minute which the firms previously charged roaming subscribers.
in realizing the project. “It is important that our regional telecom operators work together to make this communication milestone a reality.” “When I used to call my suppliers in Kenya, they used to charge me and also deduct airtime fees. This was making it hard for us to do business,” said Olivier Mugabo, an importer of second hand clothes in Kigali’s Nyabugogo market. The previous regulations affected costs for all incoming international calls for mobile phone users in Rwanda and also those in Diaspora. At the end of it all, both mobile phone users and telecom operators were feeling the pinch of the high charges. Steve Gasana, Airtel Rwanda’s roaming interconnect and carrier business manager, said it was urgent that regional telecom regulators reduce the fees to ease communication.
Teddy Bhullar, the Airtel Rwanda managing director, said the reduction is part of ensuring seamless communication for users. With the reduction in roaming charges, experts believe that it will now facilitate those in business community. Nyirishema explained that the previous fee on incoming international traffic that was shared between the government and Rura The 9th Northern Corridor had been scrapped. Infrastructure Summit that will “The same applies to roaming take place in Kigali on 7 March charges, which has also been 2015 will see One Network Area removed,” he added. He noted that launched. the inter-operator fee had remained at $4 cents (about Rwf28), which In a meeting of regional regulatory when added to the taxes amounts bodies held in Arusha in August to $10 cents (about Rwf69), the 2014, Tanzania and Burundi were retail rate operators are supposed given until December 31, 2014 to to charge roaming clients. carry out studies on the minimum roaming charge they want. John Nasasira, Uganda’s minister of “We all have the same commitment Information and Communication to lower calling rates within the Technology said in a recent The scrapping of Roaming charges will region,” said Nyirishema. MTN interview that telecom operators facilitate cross border trade in the EAC Rwanda now charges roaming across the region played a key role Partner States. www.mineac.gov.rw July-Dec 2014 23
