The East African Community (EAC) is advancing reforms to make mobile roaming across the region cheaper and more predictable, following national consultations with governments, regulators, and telecom operators under the Eastern Africa Regional Digital Integration Project (EARDIP).
The discussions, focused on strengthening the One Network Area (ONA) framework, which has cut roaming charges but still faces gaps in affordability, enforcement, and consumer awareness.
“East Africans should be able to move, trade, and connect across our borders without worrying about exorbitant phone bills,” said Dr. Franklin Makokha of the Communications Authority of Kenya.
Partner States stressed that harmonised roaming is vital to integration under the EAC Common Market Protocol. Burundi highlighted affordability and interoperability as priorities, while the Democratic Republic of Congo and Somalia both expressed readiness to fully align with the ONA framework.
The revised regime is expected to introduce safeguards against fraud such as SIM boxing, fair usage policies to prevent misuse, and stronger protections for smaller operators. It will also adapt to emerging technologies including e-SIMs, IoT roaming, and cross-border data-driven services.
Consumer education emerged as a key priority, with regulators warning that limited awareness has slowed adoption. “ONA must work for everyone—the trader crossing a border, the student abroad, and the operator investing in networks,” said Uganda Communications Commission’s Julianne Mweheire.
Officials from Rwanda, Tanzania, and South Sudan also reaffirmed support, calling regional roaming not only a driver of integration but a catalyst for digital business growth.
A final revised framework will be drafted for EAC policy consideration, promising lower costs for citizens and a fairer, more sustainable environment for telecom operators.
Source: EAC Secretariat