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Consumers across Tanzania are enjoying significantly lower costs when making calls to other East African Community (EAC) countries, thanks to a new regional initiative aimed at harmonising roaming charges.
According to the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA), the average cost of a minute-long call to fellow EAC member states fell sharply—from Sh 627.80 in March to just Sh 247.52 in June 2025, representing a staggering 61 percent decline in just three months.
TCRA Director General Dr. Jabiri Bakari credited the development to an EAC-wide agreement that standardised telecom tariffs across borders. He noted that the policy was designed not only to lower costs but also to strengthen economic and social ties between citizens of member states such as Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi.
“We have witnessed a significant surge in cross-border communication. Lower prices have encouraged more people to call their loved ones, conduct business, and stay connected,” Dr. Bakari said.
The impact has been immediate. Between April and June 2025, the total number of international minutes from Tanzania to other EAC countries soared to over 156 million minutes, compared to just 9 million minutes during the same quarter in 2021. This surge, experts say, highlights the link between affordability and increased connectivity in the region.
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While international rates have dropped dramatically, domestic call prices have remained unchanged. Out-of-bundle users still pay Sh 26 per minute for on-net calls and Sh 28 per minute for off-net calls, rates that have been stable since mid-2024.
Economists and telecom analysts have hailed the new pricing structure as a boost to regional integration. By making cross-border communication more affordable, they argue, the policy supports trade, tourism, and cultural exchange—key pillars of the EAC’s long-term development strategy.
Local business owners have also expressed optimism. “Before, calling my suppliers in Uganda was expensive. Now, I can talk to them every day without worrying about the cost,” said a Dar es Salaam trader who imports goods from Kampala.
The TCRA has urged subscribers to take advantage of the new rates, noting that continued high usage could strengthen the case for maintaining low tariffs across the bloc.
With the digital economy playing an increasingly vital role in Africa’s growth, affordable communication is expected to remain a top priority for policymakers in the years ahead.
