Kenyan operator Safaricom is making a move to significantly reduce roaming rates for its subscribers. The company is set to create new roaming bundles that will offer its subscribers reduced roaming charges in 21 countries in North and Central Africa, Europe and New Zealand. The company also revealed that subscribers travelling to Rwanda and the UAE shall be offered reduced rates for calls made to Kenya. The new rates follow the signing of a revised agreement with Vodafone affiliates.
According to the operator, subscribers can access up to 10 minutes of voice services, 10 SMS and 10MB of data in 21 countries at a reduced rate. Safaricom has secured the roaming agreements through a number of affiliate in Albania, Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Malta, New Zealand, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Netherlands, Turkey, UK, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Lesotho and Mozambique, among other countries.
Safaricom revealed that subscribers who travel to Egypt will now pay KES 200 for ten minutes of conversation, down from the previous charges of over KES 900. For subscribers who are travelling to the UAE and roaming on Etisalat, calling rates have come down by 85 percent, while data customers will now cost KES 100 per MB, down from KES 1,020 previously.
Darryl Linington
