Leading Kenyan operator Safaricom has announced significant reductions in roaming rates for its subscribers after successful negotiations with its global network of partners and regional governments.

The company said the creation of a new roaming bundle will enable subscribers to enjoy reduced roaming charges in 21 countries in North and Central Africa, Europe and New Zealand, while subscribers travelling to Rwanda and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) shall enjoy reduced rates for calls made to Kenya.

"We always place the needs of our customers at the forefront of our business. We have aggressively lobbied countries and our partners to ensure our subscribers can enjoy the same reliable communication services they have come to know in Kenya when they travel at significantly reduced rates," said Bob Collymore, chief executive officer (CEO) of Safaricom.

The agreement with Vodafone affiliates means for KSh200 subscribers can access up to 10 minutes of voice services, 10 SMS, and 10MBs of data in 21 countries.

The new roaming rates apply in Albania, Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Malta, New Zealand, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Netherlands, Turkey, United Kingdom, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Lesotho, and Mozambique, among other countries.