By KPC Reporter
Efforts are underway to strengthen mobile roaming across East Africa as regional stakeholders confront persistent policy, market and operational gaps undermining the full benefits of the One Network Area (ONA) Initiative.
Launched to make mobile roaming simple and affordable, ONA allows travelers within the region to use their phones as if they were at home, with free incoming calls.
However, uneven implementation across Partner States has meant that many users still face inconsistent service quality and unexpected costs.
Officials involved in the initiative say differences in national regulations, pricing structures and enforcement remain the biggest obstacles to a seamless roaming experience.
“While the vision of ONA is clear, policy and regulatory misalignments continue to slow progress toward a fully harmonised regional roaming environment,” said a regional telecommunications official involved in the programme.
“Uneven enforcement of roaming rules reduces predictability for both operators and consumers.”
Among the key policy challenges are asymmetric retail pricing—where home users calling roaming subscribers still pay full international rates—divergent tax regimes on voice, SMS and data, and the use of state-controlled international gateways that often raise costs.
Market dynamics have also complicated implementation as telecommunications operators face cost imbalances due to varying tariffs and transit fees, while some users exploit lower roaming tariffs through permanent roaming misuse, undermining fairness and sustainability.
“These distortions create unequal incentives,” the official noted.
“Some users benefit from cheaper options while others pay more, which erodes trust in the system and slows adoption.”
Operational constraints further affect service delivery.
Variations in network maturity across countries, limited 4G and 5G coverage in some markets, and weak cross-border connectivity continue to result in uneven service quality.
Complex billing arrangements and limited regional fraud detection mechanisms also pose financial risks to operators.
To address these challenges, the East Africa Regional Digital Integration Project (EARDIP) is spearheading efforts to reinforce ONA through the development of a comprehensive regional roaming framework under the East African Community.
At the policy level, the framework seeks to harmonise rules on interconnection, roaming tariffs, quality of service and enforcement, creating a predictable environment for operators while safeguarding consumers.
Operationally, the project is promoting efficient cross-border call routing and interoperable billing and settlement systems to reduce disputes, improve reliability and cut costs.
“By addressing policy, market and operational gaps together, we can unlock the full potential of regional roaming,” an EARDIP representative said.
“Our goal is to ensure that mobile communication across East Africa is seamless, affordable and reliable.”
Regional officials say the proposed EAC Regional Roaming Framework reflects evolving technologies and market realities, positioning mobile connectivity as a key enabler of regional integration.
If fully implemented, the reforms are expected to support the free movement of people, goods and services envisaged under the EAC Common Market Protocol, while making cross-border communication easier for millions of East Africans.