In a press statement, Safaricom has said it’s set to lower the cost of calls and roaming rates between Kenya and Rwanda, with effect from the 1st of October 2014 in preparation of East African Community’s “One Network” set to officially launch in 2015.
Safaricom said it will cut roaming rates for Safaricom customers visiting Rwanda slashed by 60%, from Kshs. 25 to Kshs. 10 from Safaricom to local Rwandan networks at Kshs. 10, which is a 43% drop from the initial rate of Kshs. 17.50 per min. The firm added that customers making calls from Kenya to Rwanda, and vice versa, will be billed at a rate of Kshs. 10 per min.
Safaricom says the move comes on the back of intense discussions by the East African Community ICT Ministers and the scrapping of prohibitive taxes and levies enforced by Rwanda for receiving calls while roaming in Rwanda – which previously stood at Kshs. 25 per minute.
The last tariff review between Kenya and Rwanda was an increase effected in October 2013, when governments within the region introduced taxes to international calls forcing operators to revise their rates upwards.
“This is a significant milestone towards enabling people within the region enjoy affordable ICT services, in line with other aspirations of developing the EAC to become a formidable economic block within the continent”, said Safaricom’s Chief Executive Officer, Bob Collymore.