NAIROBI – Safaricom this morning announced the suspension of the proposed new lower international and roaming tariffs between Kenya and Rwanda, following a directive issued by the Rwanda government yesterday that introduced new levies on international calling and roaming tariffs between the two countries.
“This new developments make it impossible for operators in Kenya and Rwanda to go ahead with the planned downward revision in tariffs,” Safaricom CEO Bob Collymore. “We will therefore revert to the previous tariffs even as we push on with efforts to ensure that we have affordable calling rates for the region.”
If the new tariffs had been introduced, it would have cost Ksh10 per minute for Safaricom customers to make calls to Rwanda. Customers visiting Rwanda would also pay a similar amount to call back home and within Rwanda. The move would also have scrapped the charges for receiving calls while roaming in Rwanda, which previously stood at Ksh25 per minute.
“We remain committed to the effective implementation of One Network Area initiative by the East African Community Heads of State, which envisages the reduction of International and Roaming tariffs reduced to lower costs of doing business and deepen social integration in the entire region,” Mr Collymore said.
The CEO said they have entered into discussions with the Ministry of Information and Communications, and the regulator Communications Authority of Kenya, seeking a revision of the position taken by the Rwandan government. The last tariff review between Kenya and Rwanda was effected in October 2013, when governments within the region introduced taxes to international calls forcing operators to revise their rates upwards.
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