Airtel and Warid subscribers are now enjoying a uniform rate to call and send text messages to each other following the fusion of the telecommunications companies calling operations, a company official has said.
Prior to that, calling each other's networks cost Shs240, while sending a text message could go for Shs130. This also included the Shs112 interconnection fee per minute.
Warid customers will now call and SMS using Airtel to Airtel rates. The rates, however, depend on the package a customer subscribes to for examples Micro Kiki at Shs300 entitles one to 4 minutes of free calling. Mini Kika at Shs500 gives one 7 minutes of free calling, with Kika at Shs1,000, one gets 25 minutes and Kino Kika at Shs2,000 one gets 90 minutes of free calls.
Airtel Managing Director VG Mr Somasekhar yesterday said the development is a step in the merger exercise, adding that the firm is putting together an integration plan that will ensure that customers access a wide coverage and quality services.
The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) gave Airtel a green light to proceed with the acquisition process last week and also assured former Warid Telecom customers of continuity in services.
Warid customers subscribing to the "pakalast product" will be able to use the free minutes to call the Airtel network and the same will happen to Airtel customers subscribing to the "Kiika" product which entitle them to 25 minutes of free calls at Shs,1000.
Just like their Airtel counterparts, subscribers with the "070" numbers will also be able to enjoy international roaming services at local rates.
Mr Somasekhar said the merger, which is expected to be completed in about six months. The deal, which has boosted Airtel's subscriber base to 7.2 million, which is close to market leader MTN's7.7 million, is expected to increase competition leading to competitive pricing, more innovations and improved quality of service, according to Eng. Godfrey Mutabazi, UCC executive director.
He, however, added that the entire process will be handled professionally and in accordance with the law.
For the time being, the two brands will be used in parallel until the merger is completed but the two numbers "075" and "070" will continue to be used even after the merger.
From Monitor Publications
