African roaming rates to plummet

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African roaming rates to plummet

Africa , 03 Apr 2012

African roaming rates to plummet

SA`s first and second cellphone operators today announced they will reduce the roaming fees to certain African countries.

While Vodacom has dropped its roaming fees for six countries – including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Mozambique and Tanzania – MTN says it will offer reduced roaming rates in the Sub-Saharan Africa region “in the near future”.

Data down 70%

The result of Vodacom`s new flat rate fees is a reduction of over 70% in roaming data fees for the six above-mentioned African countries.

SA`s frist cellphone operator says it has leveraged its presence with that of its parent company Vodafone in these countries, to provide customers who travel the continent with reduced rates, applicable across the Vodacom and Vodafone networks.

“The flat rates have resulted in roaming data rates being reduced by more than 70%, from R17.50/MB to R5/MB. In addition, roaming customers will also enjoy free incoming calls when they travel in these countries.”

Reduced Africa roaming rates are as follows:

* Data: R5/MB. Data roaming is only available to contract customers and is charged in 10KB increments.
* Voice: R2.90 per minute for a local voice call, free incoming calls and R5 per minute for a call back to SA, or an international call.
* SMS: R1.50 for local and international SMSes and free incoming SMSes.

Up to 90% discount

MTN says it will soon launch reduced roaming rates for certain African countries that will see a drop of up to 90%.

The operator says its promotion is expected to benefit migrant workers travelling to countries such as Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Mozambique.

MTN SA chief marketing officer Serame Taukobong says: “Customers will be able to receive free incoming calls and SMSes, which have been reduced from R4, send SMSes to anywhere for R1.50, and make local calls in the country they are visiting for as little as R3.”