The President of the Southern African Telecommunications Association (SATA), Sherry Singh, also President and CEO of Mauritius Telecom, announced on September 13, 2019 the gradual implementation of the proposed single roaming tariff in the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

During the launching ceremony of the SATA Digital Sharing Platform, an interface of exchange of ideas and collaboration, Sherry Singh revealed that thirteen out of fifteen SADC countries have already signed the Memorandum of Understanding for the project. abolition of the roaming fees called Roam like at home. 

SADC member States are namely; Angola, Botswana, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

According to the SATA President, the SADC Ministerial Meeting will have to ratify the MoU for the effective implementation of the project . Sherry Singh explained that ideally, the SATA wanted the project to be launched before October 1, 2019, but even if it is a little delayed, its finalization is only a matter of weeks.

“I would like to ask other countries to join us. I think that there is more to be gained by becoming a regional network rather than thinking only from the point of view of the countries. The reason why their operators have not yet registered could be an administrative delay or maybe they need permission, lighting or even motivation. But we will do everything in our power to try to convince them, “ said Sherry Singh. 

SADC countries have been thinking about reducing roaming tariffs since 2010. But it is only since 2014 that negotiations on the subject have really gained momentum.