The Indian Telecommunications giant, Barti Airtel has indicated that it will partner with the Uganda government to reduce call charges through reduction in interconnection fees.
Manoj Kohli, the International Chief Executive officer and joint managing director of Barti Airtel in a media statement seen by Ultimate Media on Tuesday (29th June 2010) says that the Uganda government has already promised to reduce on the interconnection fees so as to increase affordability of mobile phones in the country.
Uganda wireless mobile networks remains one of the most expensive in the world because of high interconnectivity fees making mobile telecommunications unaffordable to most people.
Barti Airtel
Barti Airtel
which is the fifth largest mobile operator in the world with 180 million subscribers and operating in 18 countries recently bought Zain business operations in 15 African countries
The Barti Airtel CEO says the company is going to invest about 221.7 billion (Uganda Shillings) or more than USD100 million in the next two to three years in providing innovation affordable high quality services and expanding its network to both rural and urban areas of Uganda.
The Indian telecommunications company also plans to create employment for skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled people in Uganda through a partner ecosystem that includes larger companies like Ericson, Nokia; IT companies that will create opportunities for people as distributors and dealers among others.
By Solomon Akugizibwe, Ultimate Media