Safaricom had revised the tariff downwards to Sh10 per minute for its customers to make calls to Rwanda and vice versa.
NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct 2 – Safaricom has suspended new international and roaming tariffs between Kenya and Rwanda.
This follows a directive issued by the Rwanda Government on Wednesday, announcing the introduction of new levies on international calling and roaming tariffs between the two countries.
Safaricom’s Chief Executive Officer Bob Collymore says the new developments make it impossible for operators in Kenya and Rwanda to go ahead with the planned downward revision of tariffs.
“We will therefore revert to the previous tariffs even as we push on with efforts to ensure that we have affordable calling rates for the region,” said Collymore.
Safaricom had revised the tariff downwards to Sh10 per minute for its customers to make calls to Rwanda and vice versa.
The move would also have scrapped the charges for receiving calls while roaming in Rwanda- which previously stood at 25 per minute.
“We remain committed to the effective implementation of One Network Area initiative by the East African Community Heads of State, which envisages the reduction of international and roaming tariffs reduced to lower costs of doing business and deepen social integration in the entire region,” he added.
The CEO said they have entered into discussions with the Ministry of Information Communications and Technology, and the regulator Communications Authority of Kenya, seeking a revision of the position taken by the Rwanda government.
