Safaricom has significantly cut roaming rates for subscribers travelling 21 countries across the globe as it enters into strategic arrangement with affiliates of Vodafone, its majority shareholder.
The largest operator in the country yesterday said signing of a new agreement with Vodafone affiliates, to allow subscribers access up to 10 minutes of voice services, 10 SMS, and 10MBs of data in 21 countries for Sh200.
This is a big relief to users across the beneficiary destinations that have been tuned to exorbitant charges in the past.
Subscribers travelling to Albania, Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, and Malta, will enjoy the cheaper rates using a new bundle customized for the jurisdiction.
Other countries that the operator will also apply the rates to, include New Zealand, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Netherlands, Turkey, United Kingdom, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Lesotho, and Mozambique.
Subscribers travelling to Egypt will enjoy a 77 percent drop for ten minutes of conversation, to Sh 200 from a previous charge of over Sh900.
Similarly, those visiting United Arab Emirates and roaming on Etisalat platform will be charged 85 percent less.
Data customers under this jurisdiction will however pay Sh100 per MB, down from Sh1, 020.
“We have aggressively lobbied countries and our partners to ensure our subscribers can enjoy the same reliable communication services they have come to know in Kenya when they travel at significantly reduced rates,” said Safaricom Chief Executive Officer, Bob Collymore.
The company said it has initiated a campaign for other targeted agreements with Uganda and Tanzania after it announced upto 60 percent drop in roaming charges to Rwanda.
