International Mobile Roaming: Progress and Challenges in African Markets
Date
2011-02-15
Authors
Sutherland, Ewan
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
LINK Centre, University of the Witwatersrand (Wits), Johannesburg
Abstract
The persistence of high prices for international mobile roaming services, in contrast to falling national mobile prices, has been a recognised item on the global regulatory agenda for half a decade. In Africa, there have been studies and discussions about regulatory options in regional economic groups and in the various networks of national regulators. As yet, there has been no transnational regulatory action. Yet the initiative of one large operator saw the introduction of transnational tariff schemes (ie without a surcharge for roaming), forcing competitors to collaborate in order to respond, if they wished to attract and to retain customers. This has both saved money for consumers and greatly reduced the need for regulatory interventions that might have proved counterproductive. In some countries this type of offer remains impossible, because international gateways are a monopoly, having yet to be opened to competition.
Description
Keywords
, international mobile roaming, high IMR charges, African telecommunications sector, regulatory
agenda
Citation
Sutherland, E. (2011). International mobile roaming: Progress and challenges in African markets. The African Journal of Information and Communication (AJIC), 11, 2-22. https://doi.org/10.23962/10539/19718