Customers of the Airtel network will now browse the internet for as low as KSh 10 per MB and will make calls for as low as KSh 9 per minute while roaming in Uganda, after the mobile operator announced it had dropped its roaming charges in the country.
These new rates have received a significant cut from the previous charges of up to 78 per cent for data roaming rates and 60 per cent for call rates, which will be applicable for both prepaid and postpaid customers.
Before this new move, Airtel customers roaming in Uganda would make calls to Kenya for KSh 23 per minute and browse the internet at KSh 43 per MB. The new charges will apply to calls made to Kenya from Uganda, local calls in Uganda as well as calls made to Rwanda while in Uganda.
In addition, customers of the Airtel network in Kenya will make calls to both Uganda and Rwanda for a flat rate fee of KSh 10 and receiving calls on the network while in Uganda will now be free.
“The reduction will give more talk time and access to the internet for our travelling customers in the spirit of fostering seamless cross border communication for communities in the East Africa Region,” said Adil El Youssefi in a statement.
The slashing of the roaming rates has been done in alignment with the One Area Network campaign that was introduced to help bring together East Africa countries through telecommunication integration.
Kenyans on the Airtel network prepaid option will have their roaming service automatically activated once they cross to the Airtel Uganda network and will continue to enjoy being able to top up their SIM cards with locally purchased scratch cards by dialing “138*Voucher-PIN”.
In the beginning of this month, rival mobile operator Safaricom reduced its roaming charges in 21 countries globally, among them in Rwanda where Safaricom customers now enjoy the reduced rates that were cut by up to 60 per cent that is required by EAC through One Area Network.
