KAMPALA, Uganda, May 24 – Airtel Uganda has new harmonised calling rates to all African destinations, cutting costs for Ugandans communicating across the continent.
Starting on Thursday, Airtel customers can call any destination in Africa for USh10 per second.
Calls within East Africa including Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi and DRC as well as calls to Nigeria and South Africa will cost even less, at USh6 per second.
Previously, customers were paying between USh450 to USh1,500 per minute to call many of the African destinations, making these new rates from Airtel the best available.
“We believe the time for Africa is now and, as such, Airtel is committed to connecting the continent and breaking any cross-border communication barriers through providing affordable communication. Africa has experienced rapid economic growth over the last decade and this offer will allow Ugandans to capitalize on this growth,” Airtel Uganda Managing Director Somasekhar VG said while commenting on the new rates.
“The lower rates will not only allow Ugandans to talk more, the increased communication will also play a role in promoting trade and commerce across Africa,” he added.
Speaking at the launch event the minister of ICT in Uganda Ruhakana Rugunda explained that the reality of closing the communication divide in Africa is only going to be made possible when we respond to the growing need for people to communicate by providing innovative and advanced ICT solutions that make mobile telephony and other communication available and affordable to all.
He added that the launch of Airtel’s One Africa One Rate, which envisages a uniform charge for all calls made to African countries from an Airtel number, will go a long way in bringing Africans together.
As an added bonus, customers who call the African destinations frequently will stand a chance to win a dream holiday for two every week for next three months.
The holiday is the result of a partnership between Airtel Uganda, Fly 540 and Serena Hotels.
Airtel has been at the forefront of driving innovation across Africa not only within the local scene but at international level through the One Network profile that allows customers to communicate at local rates when they travel to at least 17 countries in Africa.
