Mobile operators in East Africa urged to lower call charges

By Frankline Sunday

Deputy President William Ruto has urged mobile service providers to review their call rates downwards to increase mobile connectivity in the country and across the East African region.

Speaking yesterday while opening the 20th edition of the East African Communications Organisation (EACO) congress at the KICC, the deputy president stated that high tariffs limit the inclusion of the majority of the population that could be reached by mobile services.

“The present calling costs, roaming and data charges in the region are unsustainable, and lock out over 80 million potential mobile telephone subscribers from benefiting,” he said. “I believe it is important that this kind of a forum can address this issue so that the larger populace can benefit.”

Ruto further stated that the congress should find out ways of reducing the cost of mobile communication and data services in the region.

“Since mobile roaming charges forms one of the topics for discussion, I urge you to engage robustly on the matter and, at the end of the deliberations, resolve to make communication more affordable within the region.”

Principal Secretary to the ministry of Information Communications and Technology Bruce Madete had earlier termed the price of connectivity in the region as punitive for East African residents. He reckons the high charges had slowed down integration process.

Roaming charges are charged on mobile users as they move across different countries, while still retaining their sim-cards.

The user normally makes connections through two networks often leading to higher charges as he/she is billed by both networks.

Some of the reasons that have been said to drive up roaming charges are irregular taxation rates and policy frameworks that have remain unchanged despite the changing mobile landscape.

“As the captains of the Community’s communications industry, I encourage you to spearhead and accelerate the opening up of the region by availing seamless communications connectivity to all our people,” Mr Madete said.