Telco Safaricom has today announced it is slashing data roaming charges by up to 99% for over 200 networks across the world. The reduced charges are for the company’s data offerings, and come after negotiations the company had with its new and existing global network of partners. The rates will apply to both pre-pay and postpay customers of the network.Under the new plans, the data roaming rates in 52 countries will be lowered to Kshs.14 per MB. In China for example, Safaricom subscribers will be charged Kshs. 14 per MB while roaming on China Mobile and China Unicom from the former Kshs. 1,900.
Closer home, In 2015 East Africa member nations signed an agreement dubbed “One Network” that stated telcos in member countries would take significant measures aimed at reducing roaming charges.These changes were to apply to the four member countries of the Northern Corridor including Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan and Burundi. According to the latest report by the Communications Authority of Kenya, the One Network initiative has paid off with total roaming out data stood at 2.3 million MB during the quarter under review with EAC countries contributing the greatest volume of 1.2 million MB.
Below is a breakdown of the new charges for Safaricom’s data offering in a variety of countries.
| COUNTRY | RATE |
| Tanzania, China, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, South Africa, Ghana, Netherlands, DRC, Germany, Italy, Nigeria, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Botswana, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark
Estonia, Finland, Greece, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Jamaica, Japan, Latvia, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Macedonia, Malta, Mozambique, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Swaziland, Thailand |
Kshs. 14 |
