Kenya’s communication regulator the Communication Commission of Kenya (CCK) has cut mobile termination rates by KSh1.60.
CCK had for months planned the move until yesterday. The slash now means it will take less money for cross-network calls.
Before this new adjustment, mobile termination rates (MTR) were at KSh2.21. The new move is expected to pile pressure on mobile operators to lower cross-network charges.
The MTR was at a high of KSh4.42 in 2009 before falling to KSh2.21 in 2010.
The new rate that represents 28 percent drop in MTR was reached after a meeting between CCK and the four mobile operators in the country.
Information and Communication permanent secretary Dr. Bitame Ndemo said on Tuesday: “We had a meeting today with all the operators and agreed that the mobile termination rates would be lowered to Sh1.60 beginning July and that CCK conducts a fresh study that will determine the rates to be applied from 2014 onwards.”
Safaricom had initially been at logger heads with Airtel, Essar and CCK who wanted to lower the termination rate to KSh1.44. Safaricom however bitterly disputed the issue.
