Kenya’s integrated telecommunications firm Safaricom has introduced roaming charges for receiving calls through its partner networks in the East African Community (EAC), with receivers from MTN Rwanda hardest hit with charges KSh28 per minute.
Initially, receiving calls from a number of networks in the region including MTN Rwanda, MTN Uganda, UTL Uganda and Vodacom Tanzania was free.
With the new rates, receiving calls have been made standard with other networks in Rwanda and Uganda where picking calls through MTN Rwanda will attract a standard KSh28, while in Uganda a standard KSh18 through MTN and UTL.
Receiving calls through Vodacom Tanzania, which like Safaricom is co-owned by Vodafone, will however remain below the other networks charging KSh12 compared to KSh25 through TTC and other networks
The revision comes days after competitor Airtel maintained free to receive rates over 20 countries in Africa.
Safaricom has also revised upwards calls to MTN Rwanda by KSh11.50 to KSh30 from the previous KSh18.50, while calls to other networks are up by KSh5 from the previous KSh25.
Calls to the Vodacom Tanzania have come down by KSh2.50 to KSh25, while calls to other networks are down by KSh5 from the previous KSh30.
The scenario is the same in Uganda where prices are down by 50 cents for calls to MTN Uganda and UTL Uganda. Calls to other networks in the same country have seen the biggest dive falling by KSh6.50 for MTN and 4 shillings for UTL.
Analysts view Safaricom’s move as aimed at increasing traffic to the EAC states as well as increasing the company’s revenue base.
The move could also be meant to tilt the movement of incoming and outgoing roaming calls traffic in Safaricom’s favour, as roaming traffic internationally continues to shrink by 18.7 percent according to a report by Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK).
