The East African Community (EAC) is taking bold steps to reshape the way its citizens connect across borders, with a renewed push to reform roaming charges that have long burdened mobile users in the region. Affordable cross-border communication has been a long-standing challenge in East Africa, where families, traders, students, and professionals frequently move between neighboring countries but often face steep costs just to stay in touch.

Mobile connectivity is more than just a convenience in this part of the world—it is a lifeline. For small-scale traders transporting goods across borders, reliable and affordable calls can make the difference between profit and loss. For students studying in neighboring countries, data costs determine whether they can access online resources and communicate with loved ones back home. Even for governments, lower roaming charges play a strategic role in fostering regional trade, mobility, and socio-economic integration.

Despite earlier reforms, roaming bills remain a source of frustration for many East Africans. High charges, inconsistent pricing structures, and limited consumer awareness have created barriers to seamless communication, undermining the vision of a digitally connected regional bloc. That is why the EAC is now championing a far deeper transformation—one designed not only to lower costs but also to align the region’s digital ecosystem with global standards.

The Origins of One Network Area (ONA)

This reform drive comes a decade after Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda took the first step toward harmonization by launching the One Network Area (ONA) in October 2014. At the time, the pact was a game-changer: regulators capped roaming charges to curb years of excessive costs, where Rwandans had once paid as much as RWF 144 (about USD 0.20) just to receive a single call.

Early Challenges and Expansions

Before ONA, cross-border calls to countries like Uganda and Burundi were notoriously expensive, sparking public frustration and pressure to eliminate roaming surcharges altogether. South Sudan later joined the pact, while Tanzania, Burundi, and most recently the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Somalia have been urged to align with the ONA framework to ensure regional consistency.

Why Roaming Costs Still Matter

Despite the early progress, roaming charges remain a pressing issue today. At national consultations held last month under the Eastern Africa Regional Digital Integration Project (EARDIP), governments, regulators, and mobile operators agreed that major gaps persist. Many citizens continue to face unpredictable charges, while smaller operators struggle with uneven playing fields.

Revising the ONA Framework

Stakeholders have now endorsed a strengthened ONA framework designed to address lingering issues. The revised plan introduces fair usage rules, anti-fraud measures, consumer education campaigns, and protections for smaller telecom players. Importantly, it also aims to harmonize pricing across all member states, leveling the ground for both providers and users.

New Tariff Caps on the Horizon

Regional reports reveal that the latest proposals would cap roaming tariffs at strikingly low levels: just USD 0.007 per minute for calls and USD 0.005 per MB for data. These rates would align roaming costs far more closely with domestic prices, easing the financial burden on students, traders, and travelers who rely on seamless communication across borders.

A Dramatic Drop in Costs

The potential savings are significant. Back in 2012, a roaming call cost about USD 0.20 per minute. Under the proposed framework, that figure would plunge to just USD 0.007 per minute—a 96.5 percent reduction. This would effectively erase one of the largest obstacles to affordable regional communication and bring costs nearly on par with domestic call rates.

Beyond Affordability: A Tool for Integration

Officials emphasize that these reforms are about more than reducing bills.

“East Africans should be able to move, trade, and connect across our borders without worrying about exorbitant phone bills,”

said Dr. Franklin Makokha of Kenya’s Communications Authority. Rwanda’s representative, Fidel Karenzi, reaffirmed Kigali’s commitment to supporting citizen-focused digital initiatives that deliver tangible socio-economic benefits.

Preparing for the Future of Connectivity

The EAC Secretariat stressed that the updated framework is designed to evolve with technological change. It will accommodate innovations such as eSIMs, Internet of Things (IoT) roaming, and data-driven services, ensuring that East Africa’s digital ecosystem remains competitive and future-proof.

What It Means for Citizens

For ordinary people, the proposed reforms promise more than just lower roaming charges. They represent better connectivity, simpler communication, and stronger regional bonds. Students studying abroad, traders moving goods across borders, and families spread across countries would all benefit directly. In essence, cheaper roaming isn’t just a telecom policy—it is a tangible step toward making regional integration part of daily life.