Bharti Airtel has announced a 60 percent reduction of call rates and free incoming calls for both prepaid and postpaid customers of Airtel Kenya roaming to Rwanda in its review of tariffs.
Customers will now be charged KSh10 per minute for all outgoing calls while roaming in Rwanda instead of the previous charge of KSh25. The rates will apply to customers making calls from Kenya to Rwanda and vice versa on the Airtel network.
This announcement follows an agreement by the heads of state of the East African Community (EAC), including Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda to reduce cross-border calling rates by 60 per cent as part of efforts to enhance integration in the region.
Those on the prepaid package will have the roaming service automatically activated when crossing into Airtel Rwanda’s network, with no need for prior registration or sign-up fee charges allowing for customers to be treated as locals when they travel.
“Regional mobility is a critical factor in increasing trade and cross-border economic cooperation, which is a priority in the East African region and beyond,” said El Youssefi, the CEO Airtel Kenya.
He said that the move was part of other customer benefits that Airtel Kenya plans to continue offering in efforts to increase connectivity and make communication more affordable to subscribers.
Airtel Kenya says this will encourage greater adoption and usage of mobile services and will contribute to important socio-economic benefits.
Mobile network operators across the East African region continue to make changes in their tariffs through implementation of the One Network Area concept required by EAC, with MTN Rwanda announcing its reduced charges last week.
Airtel Kenya recently joined the United Nations Global Compact, a voluntary initiative that seeks to promote corporate sustainability movement in Kenya, being the first local company to support the program.
