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Mobile phone rates down next month
2007-12-22 08:36:29
By Nasser Kigwangallah
The Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) has announced that it will lower mobile phone interconnection charges from the existing US Cents 8 to US Cents 7 with effect from January 1, 2008.
The watch-dog says the move is a way of enabling the end users—the mobile phone customers— to communicate with each other more easily.
Talking to reporters at a Public Hearing on Inquiry for Review of Cost Based Interconnection Rates in Tanzania yesterday in Dar es Salaam, John Nkoma, the TCRA Director General, said the move was aimed at making mobile telephone services easily accessible to many people, particularly those living in rural areas.
He said they had convened the hearing to get more opinion from stakeholders in the communication industry.
He said the process was democratic so that what would be decided should come from the people themselves.
``The decrease in interconnection rates will automatically benefit the people, not only in urban centres, but also those who live in rural areas, who will get access to mobile telephone services more easily,`` the DG said.
He said the interconnection rates had been fixed, taking into consideration the views of all the people who should air their view on the matter without fear.
Presenting his company`s views, William Beckman, the Tanzania Telecommunication Company (TTCL) Chief Executive Officer, said his organization appreciated the process of consultations, which had been adopted by the TCRA.
He mentioned in particular the level of consultations, which started months ago, the data gathered and consultation done during the period, which included all service providers.
``The opportunities for submissions were done in transparency, therefore exposing the key issues of the industry. TTCL believes that this process has contributed to beneficial outcomes for consumers and the industry,`` he said.
According to him, customers have spoken, loud and clear that mobile service was now the preferred method for voice calls.
He said TTCL supported TCRA’s contention that rural rollouts by mobile operators would not be affected.
He assured that TTCL would be aggressively rolling out its mobile coverage over the next five year to reach even more areas that were not currently covered.
He said the telecommunications industry would benefit from the new interconnection regime as the new cost-based interconnection rates were realistic in the Tanzanian environment.
Other cellular operators present were VODACOM, TIGO, CELTEL, SIXTELECOM, BENSON INFORMATICS and ZANTEL.
They presented their submissions agreeing with the decrease of interconnection rates.
They said the move was good for both investment and the country’s competition atmosphere.
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