Traders and telecoms want EAC roaming fees scrapped

Traders and telecoms in Rwanda want EAC roaming fees scapped because they affect businesses in the area.

Telecoms subscribers, especially businesspersons in Rwanda and other East African Countries, are saying enough is enough with the burden of prohibitive roaming call rates! They are are now requesting for the scrapping of roaming fees on regional calls.

According to Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Agency (RURA), Mobile phone users and telecoms operators in Rwanda and other East African Countries are feeling the pinch following last year’s review of fees on roaming services by sector regulator.

The Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Agency (RURA) introduced a fee where any one calling an operator in Rwanda is charged Rwf144.3 per minute, up from Rwf59. According to the traders, this has increased the cost of running business in the region since the regulations affect costs for all incoming international calls for mobile phone users in Rwanda and the Diaspora. Telecoms say the increase in taxes meant rates for cross-border calls went up.

The live example we have was given by Paul Basudde, a tour consultant at African Jungle Adventures limited based in Kampala Uganda, he said the costs of making calls to his sales agent in Rwanda doubled and this is too expensive for long calls. This affects their business and the only affordable means of communication is through SMS or Email.