How one network area reduced calling rates

From January 2, Uganda joined neighbours Kenya and Rwanda, in having a uniform rate for calls made among these countries. This means irrespective of which telecom operator one uses in the three countries to make a call, it will cost the same.
This makes the three countries a one network area for the telecommunication services which is in line with the decisions made by the heads of state during the Northern Corridor Integration Projects Initiative (NCIPI) summit last year.
The implementation of the one network area is expected to significantly reduce the cost of making calls and hence lower the cost of doing business in the region. South Sudan, which is the fourth member of NCIPI, will soon join the One Network Area.
Last year the heads of state of the Northern Corridor countries signed an agreement to eliminate additional taxes and levies on international calls within the region. This move promotes economic development among the member countries.
Fred Otunnu, the communications officer at Uganda Communications Commission applauds this move saying it will boost the economy among the four countries.
He says the drop in the roaming charges is expected to stimulate growth in the telecommunications sector and promote cross border trade.
“The calls that you make will not be charged as international calls anymore so with the normal tariffs you will be able to transact business and call at cheaper prices,” Otunnu says.
He also adds that it is mandatory for all telecom companies to be part of the one network area.
The one network area ratings are due to apply starting January 31.

What it means

Wendy Angu’deyo, the corporate communications manager at MTN, says MTN was among the first telecom companies to launch one network area in Uganda.
She says if you are in Kenya and you have a Ugandan simcard you can load a Safaricom voucher by dialing *148*1* followed with the recharge pin.
As for the data cards, similar ratings apply. Safaricom costs Shs8 for 10kb which is the same rate with MTN Rwanda.
Roaming in Kenya, Rwanda or South Sudan will cost you Shs360 per minute if you make a call to other countries under the one network umbrella.
For example when in Kenya, calls to Kenyan numbers will cost the equivalent of Shs360 the same as calls to South Sudan and back home to Uganda.

Other offers

Sandor Walusimbi, the public relations manager for Airtel Uganda, says Airtel does not only give these services to the countries in the Northern Corridor but also to other countries on the continent.
He says if you are to travel to Rwanda, for example, you can use an airtime voucher that you have bought from Rwanda and using the code that is indicated at the back of the scratch card that is *138* for one network dial, your airtime will be loaded to your simcard. For the data cards there are similar ratings in all the countries.
While roaming in Kenya, Rwanda or South Sudan, it will cost you Shs360 per minute to call other countries on one network.
This move is bound to make communication easier for people within the region and hopefully promote the economies of the countries.

[email protected]