Telecom hikes local tariffs

TELECOM Namibia customers can expect to pay at least three cents more per unit for each local call made as from the beginning of next month.

The tariff will increase from 35 cents per unit to 38 cents, which amounts to an 8,6 per cent increase. In addition, line rental charges will increase by 9,5 per cent.The line rental charge for businesses goes up from N$47,73 per month to N$52,25; residents will be charged N$47,05 up from N$42,95.Those outside the Minimum Rental Area (MRA), farms and villages, will pay N$69,70 the current rate is N$63,64.Telecom Corporate Communications Head Ferdinand Tjombe said the line rental charges have been kept unchanged since 2000 “despite escalating costs and inflation”.He also said that the local call charges remained below costs after the increase.Calls from fixed telephones to cellphones have been adjusted upwards from N$1,83 to N$1,95 during peak hours and N$1,14 to N$1,20 per minute during off peak hours.National zones will be reduced to three: local, 100 km and above 100 km.This means that users living in the 200 km and above 200 km distance bands will benefit as these two bands will now be merged into the above 100 km band.Pre-paid cards and public phone local charges remain unchanged at N$0,50 per unit and CallMaker users will continue to pay N$0,65 per unit.International call rates will decrease by 15 per cent.”This is indicative of global trends to lower international call rates,” Tjombe said.Off peak rates will also be introduced for public holidays.”This is aimed at benefiting residential users and to promote the concept of family and friends who want to talk to each other during public holidays,” said Tjombe.All other rates remain unchanged.In addition, line rental charges will increase by 9,5 per cent.The line rental charge for businesses goes up from N$47,73 per month to N$52,25; residents will be charged N$47,05 up from N$42,95.Those outside the Minimum Rental Area (MRA), farms and villages, will pay N$69,70 the current rate is N$63,64.Telecom Corporate Communications Head Ferdinand Tjombe said the line rental charges have been kept unchanged since 2000 “despite escalating costs and inflation”.He also said that the local call charges remained below costs after the increase.Calls from fixed telephones to cellphones have been adjusted upwards from N$1,83 to N$1,95 during peak hours and N$1,14 to N$1,20 per minute during off peak hours.National zones will be reduced to three: local, 100 km and above 100 km.This means that users living in the 200 km and above 200 km distance bands will benefit as these two bands will now be merged into the above 100 km band.Pre-paid cards and public phone local charges remain unchanged at N$0,50 per unit and CallMaker users will continue to pay N$0,65 per unit.International call rates will decrease by 15 per cent.”This is indicative of global trends to lower international call rates,” Tjombe said.Off peak rates will also be introduced for public holidays.”This is aimed at benefiting residential users and to promote the concept of family and friends who want to talk to each other during public holidays,” said Tjombe.All other rates remain unchanged.