With regulator’s plan to cut fees, cheaper calls might be on the way

By Fredrick Obura

Kenyans could be headed for cheaper telecommunication services as the Government’s recent move to lower mobile termination rate by almost 28 per cent continues to excite market mainly the telecommunication providers.

Airtel-Kenya has welcomed the move.

The state reduced mobile termination rate by almost 28 per cent to Sh1.60 a minute from July terming it pro small operators.

“We are happy by the government’s direction to bring down the termination rate fees, it shows a commitment to lower technology services in the country which as operators are likely to pass on to consumers,” said Jayant Khosla-Chief Executive Officer, Anglophone at Bharti Airtel in Nairobi.

low rates

“The current termination fees were prohibitive that affected operations of growing operators in the country,” he added.

At a meeting called by the ministry of Information, Communication Commission, and the four mobile operators, a deal was reached to lower mobile termination rate-rate mobile operators pay each other for calls originating from rival network-by 27.6 per cent.

The new agreement will see operators pay Sh1.60 a minute less Sh2.21 currently charged a minute for calls made on rivals network.

Speaking during the signing of communication deal between Avaya and Bharti-Airtel, Information, Communication Minister Samuel Poghisio, said the Government was keen on making technology easily available to consumers.

He said the action to lower the termination rate was one in a number of other actions the state has lined up to make IT accessible and used for development.

 “We are calling on the operators to pass on these benefits to consumers,” he said at the ceremony.

The five-year deal agreement signed between Airtel and Avaya would see improvement in customer care experience among the Airtel customers.

contact centre

The partnership under the umbrella of Avaya Communications Outsourcing Solutions-will provide contact centre technology and managed services.

This is designed to increase the performance, reduce the costs and accelerate the transformation of Airtel’s customer experience.