Telecom reduces tariffs

TELECOM Namibia has announced a new tariff structure effective October 1, which will see calls to some international fixed-line destinations lowered by an average 15 per cent.

The new structure will also usher in the introduction of per second billing charging system – shifting from the unit-based charging system. “The new tariff structure … is in accordance with the company’s undertaking to constantly offer its subscribers affordable telecommunications services,” said Telecom spokesperson, Oiva Angula.Tariffs for fixed-to-fixed calls to South Africa, Angola and other countries (Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique and Swaziland) will go down by six per cent, 20 per cent and five per cent respectively.Tariff calls to other international fixed-line destinations will decrease on average by 15 per cent.Charges for fixed-to-mobile calls to South Africa, Angola, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom will remain unchanged, while fixed-to-mobile calls to the rest of the world will be cut by 15 per cent.Calls to mobile phones in the group of other countries will cost N$2,99 and N$1,99 per minute for peak and off-peak hours respectively.According to Telecom, the per-second billing system means that the customer will now pay for the exact amount of time they spend on the Telecom network.This new method will be used for local, trunk calls, Internet dial-up and international calls.Angula said the new charging system was necessitated by ‘moving towards a simplified tariff structure, creating the flexibility required in a competitive environment and addressing the needs of customers’.”The new tariff structure … is in accordance with the company’s undertaking to constantly offer its subscribers affordable telecommunications services,” said Telecom spokesperson, Oiva Angula.Tariffs for fixed-to-fixed calls to South Africa, Angola and other countries (Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique and Swaziland) will go down by six per cent, 20 per cent and five per cent respectively.Tariff calls to other international fixed-line destinations will decrease on average by 15 per cent.Charges for fixed-to-mobile calls to South Africa, Angola, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom will remain unchanged, while fixed-to-mobile calls to the rest of the world will be cut by 15 per cent.Calls to mobile phones in the group of other countries will cost N$2,99 and N$1,99 per minute for peak and off-peak hours respectively.According to Telecom, the per-second billing system means that the customer will now pay for the exact amount of time they spend on the Telecom network.This new method will be used for local, trunk calls, Internet dial-up and international calls.Angula said the new charging system was necessitated by ‘moving towards a simplified tariff structure, creating the flexibility required in a competitive environment and addressing the needs of customers’.