Telecom operators — Airtel, Etisalat, Millicom, MTN, Ooredoo, Orange, STC, Vodafone and Zain – will slash roaming rates in Africa and the Middle East.

The initiative was announced by telecom industry body GSMA today.

These nine mobile operators account for over half a billion mobile connections across 48 countries in Africa and the Middle East.

They will address international roaming pricing, improvement in regional connectivity and mobility by increasing roaming footprints by focusing on improving routes for pre-paid customers.

Anne Bouverot, director general, GSMA, said: “The initiatives of these nine operators are intended to serve to increase connectivity and make mobile more affordable for subscribers throughout these regions, encouraging greater adoption and usage of mobile services and enabling important socio-economic benefits.”

CEO of these telecom operators including Christian de Faria, CEO Africa, Bharti Airtel, Ahmad Julfar, group CEO, Etisalat Group, Arthur Bastings, EVP Africa, Millicom, Sifiso Dabengwa, CEO and president, MTN Group, Nasser Marafih, group CEO, Ooredoo, Marc Rennard, senior executive vice president, Africa, Middle East and Asia, Orange, Abdulaziz A. Alsugair, chairman and managing sirector, STC, Serpil Timuray, CEO, Africa, Middle East and Asia Pacific Region, Vodafone Group and Scott Gegenheimer, CEO, Zain Group are part of the significant development for the region.

TelecomLead News Team