Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda to launch one common network

Once the low cross-border calling charges are implemented, the rates are expected to decline to $0.1 per minute for retail and $0.07 per minute for wholesale

Mobile telephone subscribers in Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda will have to wait for at least a month to benefit from low cross-border calling charges.

The rollout under the Northern Corridor Infrastructure Framework has been deferred pending the Heads of State Summit scheduled for October 7 to 9 in Uganda.

The launch was initially scheduled for September 1, but was pushed forward to allow mobile telephone operators in the three countries to negotiate new roaming rates.

"The presidents of Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda will sign the documents that will pave the way for the implementation of the one network area by the three countries in the Heads of State Summit next month," said Kenya's Information Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i in a special gazette notice.

Once implemented, the calling rates are expected to decline to $0.1 per minute for retail and $0.07 per minute for wholesale.

The retail rate is the cost incurred in distributing calls within a country. The wholesale rate is the agreed interconnection rate between networks. Wholesale charges represent the fees the visited network charges the home network for letting its customers roam on its network.

One area network is a regional framework comprising countries that have agreed to waive or manage roaming charges and other surcharges for telecommunications traffic.

The ministers in charge of information in the three countries agreed to publish policy guidelines on one network area ahead of the commencement of the trials.

In Kenya, for example, Dr Matiang'i has already published a gazette notice that amends the Information and Communications Technology Sector Policy Guidelines to include the implementation of regional roaming tariffs within the one network area.

The changes in the policy guidelines give the mobile telephone operators the greenlight to negotiate new roaming charges.

The scheme is important for East Africa's citizens, as roaming charges, which have been beyond the reach of many, will drastically go down, stimulating growth in the telecommunications sector.

The sector has in the recent past become one of the important pillars of economic development in the region, contributing a significant share of the bloc's economic wealth.

According to Dr Matiang'i, under the agreement, the regional framework, which refers to telecommunications traffic originating and terminating within the one network area, shall not apply surcharges to international incoming traffic, impose additional charges to subscribers roaming within the one network area and impose charges to subscribers for receiving calls while roaming within the one network area.

Subscribers in Kenya have long complained about the expensive cross-border calling charges in East Africa, which are far more expensive than those for Europe or Asia.

"It is not fair for subscribers in Kenya to pay Ksh30 ($0.34) per minute to call Uganda and Ksh23 ($0.27) per minute to call Rwanda. We need to reduce the charges for the benefit of East African residents," said Dr Matiang'i.

The Cabinet secretary said Tanzania and Burundi have agreed to come on board, but requested for more time until December 31, to put in place the necessary policy framework and regulations ahead of the full launch next year.

Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda hammered the agreement under the Northern Corridor Infrastructure Integration Framework, which also includes South Sudan, a non-EAC member.

"We also agreed to help South Sudan establish a regulatory institution, formulate the necessary framework and laws to help them join the one network area at the same time with Tanzania and Burundi," said Dr Matiang'i.

The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) director-general Francis Wangusi said a study will be conducted in East Africa to help member countries come up with standard rates to be charged once the one network area is fully operational in the region.

"By July 2015 we shall have confirmed the calling charges, which we expect will be below Ksh10 ($0.12)," said Mr Wangusi.

The CA boss said there was also a need for investment in telecommunication infrastructure for the effective communication once the one area network is fully rolled out.


Source: The East African

East Africa one network area to be launched in a month - Business - www.theeastafrican.co.ke

CC: Geza Ulole

what happened to COW?

Geza Ulole said:

what happened to COW?

Click to expand...

The above article is about one element of the COW.

For security purposes this feature is not viable.

How ?explain it we understand coz cc ni wa mwisho na ubishi bila sababu(aminiusiamini)

lawmaina78 said:

IN SUMMARY

• The rollout under the Northern Corridor Infrastructure Framework has been deferred pending the Heads of State Summit scheduled for October 7 to 9 in Uganda.
• Once implemented, the calling rates are expected to decline to $0.1 per minute for retail and $0.07 per minute for wholesale.
• The scheme is important for East Africa's citizens, as roaming charges, which have been beyond the reach of many, will drastically go down, stimulating growth in the telecommunications sector.

Mobile telephone subscribers in Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda will have to wait for at least a month to benefit from low cross-border calling charges.

The rollout under the Northern Corridor Infrastructure Framework has been deferred pending the Heads of State Summit scheduled for October 7 to 9 in Uganda.

The launch was initially scheduled for September 1, but was pushed forward to allow mobile telephone operators in the three countries to negotiate new roaming rates.

"The presidents of Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda will sign the documents that will pave the way for the implementation of the one network area by the three countries in the Heads of State Summit next month," said Kenya's Information Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i in a special gazette notice.

READ: East Africa gears up for single tariff on calls

Once implemented, the calling rates are expected to decline to $0.1 per minute for retail and $0.07 per minute for wholesale.

The retail rate is the cost incurred in distributing calls within a country. The wholesale rate is the agreed interconnection rate between networks. Wholesale charges represent the fees the visited network charges the home network for letting its customers roam on its network.

One area network is a regional framework comprising countries that have agreed to waive or manage roaming charges and other surcharges for telecommunications traffic.

The ministers in charge of information in the three countries agreed to publish policy guidelines on one network area ahead of the commencement of the trials.

In Kenya, for example, Dr Matiang'i has already published a gazette notice that amends the Information and Communications Technology Sector Policy Guidelines to include the implementation of regional roaming tariffs within the one network area.

The changes in the policy guidelines give the mobile telephone operators the greenlight to negotiate new roaming charges.

READ: Kenyan telcos get nod to negotiate roaming charges

The scheme is important for East Africa's citizens, as roaming charges, which have been beyond the reach of many, will drastically go down, stimulating growth in the telecommunications sector.

The sector has in the recent past become one of the important pillars of economic development in the region, contributing a significant share of the bloc's economic wealth.

According to Dr Matiang'i, under the agreement, the regional framework, which refers to telecommunications traffic originating and terminating within the one network area, shall not apply surcharges to international incoming traffic, impose additional charges to subscribers roaming within the one network area and impose charges to subscribers for receiving calls while roaming within the one network area.

East Africa one network area to be launched in a month - Business - www.theeastafrican.co.ke

CC: Geza Ulole

Click to expand...

[h=1]Tanzania, Burundi join bid to abolish call roaming rates[/h] Decision to be discussed by EA regulators and operators during an upcoming forum in Kigali.



A man inserts a SIM card into a mobile phone. FILE PHOTO | PHOEBE OKALL |
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Tanzania and Burundi are set to join an initiative by the other the East African countries to abolish roaming rates for calls made within the region.

The move was initiated by Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda and South Sudan at the fifth infrastructure summit held in Nairobi last week, and will see citizens make cross-border calls at the same price they pay locally.

In an interview, Information Communication and Technology Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i said that while he was yet to hold a meeting with his counterparts from Tanzania and Burundi, there were indications that the two countries would join the initiative geared towards boosting economic integration.

"I will have meetings with both of them in the next few weeks to formalise the discussions but all indications are that they will join the single network. The high cost of calling across the region is a concern for everyone, not just those along the Northern Corridor," Mr Matiang'i said.

The agreement was signed by Presidents Kenyatta, Yoweri Museveni, Paul Kagame and South Sudan's Salva Kiir.


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For the first time, Tanzania was present at the summit - represented by Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda - while Burundi was represented by Second Vice-President Irgervais Rufyikiri.


The summit had been dubbed the ‘Coalition of the Willing' as a result of Tanzania's apparent reluctance to actively participate in regional integration efforts.

The ICT ministers have up to December 31 to establish a regulatory framework that will enable the implementation of the "single network area" project.

The decision will be discussed by regulators and operators during an upcoming conference for all the network operators in East Africa in Kigali.

Calling rates in the region have been a bone of contention for businesses, as taxes and fees mean that it is cheaper, for instance, for a Kenyan to make a call to the United Kingdom than to any of the other East African countries

Geza Ulole said:

what happened to COW?

Click to expand...

A man inserts a SIM card into a mobile phone. FILE PHOTO | PHOEBE OKALL |
ADVERTISEMENT
Tanzania and Burundi are set to join an initiative by the other the East African countries to abolish roaming rates for calls made within the region.

The move was initiated by Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda and South Sudan at the fifth infrastructure summit held in Nairobi last week, and will see citizens make cross-border calls at the same price they pay locally.

In an interview, Information Communication and Technology Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i said that while he was yet to hold a meeting with his counterparts from Tanzania and Burundi, there were indications that the two countries would join the initiative geared towards boosting economic integration.

"I will have meetings with both of them in the next few weeks to formalise the discussions but all indications are that they will join the single network. The high cost of calling across the region is a concern for everyone, not just those along the Northern Corridor," Mr Matiang'i said.

The agreement was signed by Presidents Kenyatta, Yoweri Museveni, Paul Kagame and South Sudan's Salva Kiir.


ADVERTISEMENT

For the first time, Tanzania was present at the summit - represented by Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda - while Burundi was represented by Second Vice-President Irgervais Rufyikiri.


The summit had been dubbed the ‘Coalition of the Willing' as a result of Tanzania's apparent reluctance to actively participate in regional integration efforts.

The ICT ministers have up to December 31 to establish a regulatory framework that will enable the implementation of the "single network area" project.

The decision will be discussed by regulators and operators during an upcoming conference for all the network operators in East Africa in Kigali.

Calling rates in the region have been a bone of contention for businesses, as taxes and fees mean that it is cheaper, for instance, for a Kenyan to make a call to the United Kingdom than to any of the other East African countries

This is a good initiative that Tanzania should join. I don't see how it could possibly harm Tanzanians. CoW members should never imagine that they can bully us into accepting anything anti-Tz! Including the single tourism visa, the land issue and the political federation!
Tanzania hoyeee!

aminiusiamini said:

For security purposes this feature is not viable.

Click to expand...

Another retarded freak. Must be from Usalama wa Taifa or whatsitsname these days.

Sijali said:

Another retarded freak. Must be from Usalama wa Taifa or whatsitsname these days.

Click to expand...

Be civil. Such language makes you seem like the depraved one. It is completely understandable why many Tanzanians are against EAC initiatives!

ralphtz said:

This is a good initiative that Tanzania should join. I don't see how it could possibly harm Tanzanians. CoW members should never imagine that they can bully us into accepting anything anti-Tz! Including the single tourism visa, the land issue and the political federation!
Tanzania hoyeee!

Click to expand...

The problem with you guys are way too slow to ingest anything. At CoW we agreed to only integrate on agreeable features and leave out any contentious issues, but Tz opted out and promised to join the train later. The modern world requires quick decisions on ideas that are developed by great thinkers. The more you procrastinate the longer your people will be left in the dark and they will turn their anger to the leadership.

CoW is pegged on what blends us more than divide, observe the developed countries, they got so far after opening their doors to the world. You can't sulk in introversion and hope things to just work.

lawmaina78 said:

The problem with you guys are way too slow to ingest anything. At CoW we agreed to only integrate on agreeable features and leave out any contentious issues, but Tz opted out and promised to join the train later. The modern world requires quick decisions on ideas that are developed by great thinkers. The more you procrastinate the longer your people will be left in the dark and they will turn their anger to the leadership.

CoW is pegged on what blends us more than divide, observe the developed countries, they got so far after opening their doors to the world. You can't sulk in introversion and hope things to just work.

Click to expand...

HA! You Kenyans have little to your credit to start lecturing East Africans about what the modern world wants. Like Museveni said, or Jesus if you want, a dwarf can not lead a fellow dwarf! A blind man can not lead a fellow blind man!
We are not procrastinating about anything. The good minister gave very weighty reasons for Tanzania not joining the tourism visa. What he did was not 'leave his people in the dark'. For your information he was commended for the good work he is doing at the EAC ministry so I don't think any anger was or will be directed to him any time soon (though he is screwing up in the Constituent Assembly).
About the land issue, i have lived in Kenya and i know that your land policies are failures of biblical proportions! Less than 10% of the population owns over 80% of the land. Separatist sentiments and terrorism in your coastal regions are being fueled by the fact that the people there are foreigners in their own land! In stead of at least trying to learn from Tanzania, you want her to loosen her land policies and adopt yours, so your landless many can finally be at peace. This country will not turn into another Kenya. Let the new constitution come and cement our position about this land issue.
Tanzania is not slow or introverted. We are quick to ratify and adopt anything that we feel is for the good of all. A good example is the monetary union protocol. But when regional interests are incongruent with national ones, we will always protect our national interests first. A pro-Kenya EAC will never work!

ralphtz said:

HA! You Kenyans have little to your credit to start lecturing East Africans about what the modern world wants. Like Museveni said, or Jesus if you want, a dwarf can not lead a fellow dwarf! A blind man can not lead a fellow blind man!
We are not procrastinating about anything. The good minister gave very weighty reasons for Tanzania not joining the tourism visa. What he did was not 'leave his people in the dark'. For your information he was commended for the good work he is doing at the EAC ministry so I don't think any anger was or will be directed to him any time soon (though he is screwing up in the Constituent Assembly).
About the land issue, i have lived in Kenya and i know that your land policies are failures of biblical proportions! Less than 10% of the population owns over 80% of the land. Separatist sentiments and terrorism in your coastal regions are being fueled by the fact that the people there are foreigners in their own land! In stead of at least trying to learn from Tanzania, you want her to loosen her land policies and adopt yours, so your landless many can finally be at peace. This country will not turn into another Kenya. Let the new constitution come and cement our position about this land issue.
Tanzania is not slow or introverted. We are quick to ratify and adopt anything that we feel is for the good of all. A good example is the monetary union protocol. But when regional interests are incongruent with national ones, we will always protect our national interests first. A pro-Kenya EAC will never work!

Click to expand...

Can you try to be concise, instead of using too many words to say so little. You must understand these posts are read by others too.
It's a known fact Tz have been way too timid on just about anything and everything concerning EAC endeavours.
It is not always about land and tourism. There is quite a lot of other things that can be ratified and leave out contentious ones, that's what CoW are doing.
Anyway, I must commend your administration as it seems to have woken up abruptly, they are catching up and willing to participate albeit with one leg out.

lawmaina78 said:

Can you try to be concise............

Click to expand...

I should have spared a thought for the likes of you
Was the CoW avoiding contentious issues when it formed a committee to start drafting a new constitution for the federation without Tanzania's input?
It is also well known that most EAC initiatives are pro-Kenyan.
Anyways, lets see where this ship goes. I just pray Tanzanians will be wise enough to know when they are being short-changed.

ralphtz said:

I should have spared a thought for the likes of you
Was the CoW avoiding contentious issues when it formed a committee to start drafting a new constitution for the federation without Tanzania's input?
It is also well known that most EAC initiatives are pro-Kenyan.
Anyways, lets see where this ship goes. I just pray Tanzanians will be wise enough to know when they are being short-changed.

Click to expand...

The problem with you Tanzanians, you approach everything from Kenya's perspective as opposed to what is in stake for Tz. To you is always about how Kenya will benefit. you must understand this is like a business merger negotiations. You don't run away like a coward, but have your best brains engage on the table.

lawmaina78 said:

The problem with you Tanzanians, you approach everything from Kenya's perspective as opposed to what is in stake for Tz. To you is always about how Kenya will benefit. you must understand this is like a business merger negotiations. You don't run away like a coward, but have your best brains engage on the table.

Click to expand...

What a bs! So when you do business. The other party doesn't have to understand the other party perspectives? What you talking here?

Sijali said:

Another retarded freak. Must be from Usalama wa Taifa or whatsitsname these days.

Click to expand...

I think if we both have the same perspective as you, i would not be surprised to call you a retard. But i chose to look at you differently more like ignorant individual with no class.

aminiusiamini said:

What a bs! So when you do business. The other party doesn't have to understand the other party perspectives? What you talking here?

Click to expand...

Let me give you some tips on the art of business negotiations
- Learn about your partner's perspective but don't approach from the same
- Always know each protagonist will want anything and everything, it's your players' responsibilities to deter and get the best.
- There is no such thing as brotherhood on that table, it's all about business and may be share a drink later

lawmaina78 said:

The problem with you guys are way too slow to ingest anything. At CoW we agreed to only integrate on agreeable features and leave out any contentious issues, but Tz opted out and promised to join the train later. The modern world requires quick decisions on ideas that are developed by great thinkers. The more you procrastinate the longer your people will be left in the dark and they will turn their anger to the leadership.

CoW is pegged on what blends us more than divide, observe the developed countries, they got so far after opening their doors to the world. You can't sulk in introversion and hope things to just work.

Click to expand...

Mkuu,you want us to run key government decisions which have direct effects to our citizens in'fast and furious'kinda decisions? Nope,that will never gonna happen. Remmember what killed the previous EAC?. Once bitten twice shy!

Geza Ulole said:

what happened to COW?

Click to expand...

Eti COW hehehhhe! hawa jamaa wanaangaika..... duh!