It is always advisable not to use mobile networks of your country of origin for your telephony services whenever you visit a foreign country. This is because roaming charges are always very exorbitant wherein you may find yourself paying Kshs 130 per minute to make a call to Kenya or within the country you have visited. Despite this, there are times when the only way to communicate is by using your Kenya’s mobile number e.g. immediately after landing in that foreign country. Good news is, even in the rare occasions when you must use a Safaricom line in a foreign country, the Safaricom roaming charges will no longer empty your bank account as the charges have been dropped by up to 99 percent.
Following successful negotiations with its global network of partners, Safaricom has now reduced the Safaricom roaming charges for calls and data for over 200 networks across the world mainly in countries frequented by Kenyans. Safaricom customers visiting foreign lands will now be able to enjoy reduced data roaming rates at the rate of Sh14 per MB in over 52 countries where initially they were charged up to Kshs 1,900 per MB, as well as make calls at reduced rates.
“Our new roaming rates progress our deliberate strategy to continuously invest in optimizing our customers’ experience in order to provide the best experience on our network,” said Bob Collymore, CEO, Safaricom.
In China for example, Safaricom subscribers roaming on China Mobile will now be charged Sh50 to call back home and enjoy a low of Sh10 per minute to call within China, down from the former rate of Sh360 and Sh130 respectively.
The new Safaricom roaming charges will be applicable to both PrePay and PostPay subscribers with customers able to select their network of choice in the destinations that they travel to based on the rates on offer. “Our continued push to provide more value to customers is underpinned by our continued desire to empower customers so that we retain a relationship based on trust with them,” said Mr. Collymore.
Subscribers can check applicable rates for country they wish to travel and the preferred roaming network by visiting the Safaricom website. Customers will also be able to compare roaming costs on different networks so as to decide which one to roam on.
Following the reduction in Safaricom roaming charges, Safaricom customers will now pay a flat rate of Kshs 14 per MB for data in Tanzania, China, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, South Africa, Ghana, Netherlands, DRC, Germany, Italy, Nigeria, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Botswana, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Jamaica, Japan, Latvia, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Macedonia, Malta, Mozambique, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Swaziland, Thailand
