Burundi: Regional Roaming Framework Comes into Force on August 1
July 31st 2024
Burundi’s Telecommunications Regulatory and Control Agency (ARCT) has announced that the regional roaming framework will come into effect from Thursday, August 1. New rates will now apply for regional roaming phone calls and direct phone calls to the region.
Burundian telecom operators are required to clearly communicate the rates applicable for direct regional communications and regional roaming. The ARCT has also asked them to apply detailed billing to verify the communications made and the amounts billed.
This initiative follows Burundi’s accession to the East African Community (EAC) Single Communication Network or One Network Area (ONA) validated by a decree signed on October 2, 2023 by Evariste Ndayishimiye, President of the Republic. According to the said decree, the regional retail rate is capped at $0.10 per minute, including applicable taxes, compared to $0.07 per minute for the wholesale rate. Receiving roaming calls is free.
“ Through this regional initiative, Burundian citizens and businesses will now benefit from advantageous rates when communicating with their counterparts in other EAC member states, namely Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and South Sudan ,” ARCT said. It also added that these unique and competitive rates will significantly reduce cross-border communication costs in the region.
Source: Agency EcoFin
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