Roaming tariffs to drop 66%

The move is expected to bring relief to consumers who in certain countries in the region are paying mark-ups of up to 200% particularly for data, once they cross borders.

Communicators Regulators’ Association of Southern Africa (CRASA), a SADC-mandated body grouping telecomms regulators in 15 regional states, was tasked with implementing the reduction by 2018, according to the resolution of ministers dating back to 2008. Regional roaming charges are notoriously high, with a 2010 CRASA study showing that customers in certain countries in the SADC region, particularly the island members, were paying up to 200 times for data roaming, over the price of domestic charges. Voice roaming customers in the region were being forced to pay up to 10 times the domestic charge, once they crossed borders, the study showed.