By Peter Nyanje
When the East African Community (EAC) launched the One Network Area (ONA) initiative, the ambition was clear: make cross-border mobile communication within East Africa as seamless and affordable as domestic use.
Travellers would roam at near-local rates, incoming calls would be free, and businesses operating across borders would no longer face punishing telecoms costs.
More than a decade on, the policy has delivered measurable gains – particularly in reducing roaming charges and encouraging cross-border trade and travel.
But inconsistencies in implementation, regulation and network readiness mean the ONA experience still varies significantly from one Partner State to another.
For a region that has prioritised the free movement of people, goods and services under the EAC Common Market Protocol, these gaps are more than technical – they are economic.
Policy misalignment slows harmonisation
At the heart of the challenge lies uneven regulatory alignment.
Although ONA sets out common principles, enforcement remains inconsistent across Partner States. In some countries, roaming rules are strictly applied and monitored; in others, regulatory oversight is weaker, leading to variations in pricing, service quality and consumer protection.
One of the most contentious issues is asymmetric retail pricing. While roamers typically receive free incoming calls under ONA, callers from their home country may still pay full international tariffs.
This creates distortions and discourages cross-border communication – undermining the very purpose of the initiative.
State-controlled international traffic gateways in some jurisdictions add another layer of complexity. Mandatory routing of calls through government-operated gateways often increases costs and limits flexibility for operators seeking more efficient direct interconnection.
Divergent tax regimes further complicate harmonisation. Differences in VAT, excise duties and sector-specific levies on voice, SMS and data services make it difficult to standardise tariffs region-wide. For operators, this creates compliance burdens; for consumers, it results in uneven pricing outcomes.
Market incentives create imbalances
Beyond regulation, market dynamics are shaping how ONA functions in practice.
One growing concern is the misuse of permanent roaming. Some users acquire SIM cards from countries with lower roaming tariffs and use them long-term in higher-cost markets. While technically operating within the roaming framework, this practice distorts traffic patterns and erodes revenues for domestic operators.
Traffic routing arrangements also affect cost structures. Where calls are routed through international carriers rather than direct cross-border links, additional interconnection and transit fees inflate roaming costs.
These charges ultimately feed into retail pricing or reduce operator margins.
Differences in tariff structures and settlement arrangements between operators create cost imbalances, discouraging full participation in ONA.
In markets where inbound roaming traffic significantly exceeds outbound traffic, operators may feel disadvantaged – particularly if wholesale settlement rates are not evenly calibrated.
For consumers, unequal incentives undermine trust. Some benefit from cheaper roaming options, while others bear higher effective costs, weakening confidence in the fairness and sustainability of the system.
Operational gaps affect user experience
Even where policies align and pricing is agreed, operational constraints continue to affect service quality.
Network maturity varies widely across the region. While some Partner States have rolled out extensive 4G and 5G coverage, others still rely heavily on older network technologies. This disparity limits access to high-speed data roaming in certain corridors.
Cross-border connectivity remains another weak link. In many cases, traffic is routed via international carriers outside the region rather than through direct terrestrial fibre connections. The result is higher latency, avoidable costs and less efficient service delivery.
Billing and settlement systems also present risks. Complex inter-operator billing processes, delayed reconciliations and limited regional fraud detection mechanisms expose operators to revenue leakage. These inefficiencies can discourage aggressive promotion of roaming services.
Why it matters for regional integration
For East Africa’s increasingly integrated business community – from logistics firms operating across Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania to SMEs trading along the Rwanda–Burundi corridor – seamless and predictable mobile connectivity is critical.
Mobile communication underpins digital payments, supply chain coordination, e-commerce and tourism. Any inconsistency in roaming services directly affects the cost and ease of doing business.
As the EAC expands and deepens integration, harmonised telecommunications infrastructure becomes as vital as physical transport corridors.
EARDIP’s push for a regional roaming framework
To address these structural bottlenecks, the East Africa Regional Digital Integration Project (EARDIP) is supporting the development of a comprehensive regional roaming framework.
At the policy level, the proposed framework aims to harmonise interconnection rules, roaming tariffs, quality-of-service standards and enforcement mechanisms. The goal is to create a predictable regulatory environment that protects consumers while ensuring fair participation for operators.
Operationally, EARDIP seeks to promote more efficient cross-border call routing and interoperable billing and settlement systems. By reducing disputes, improving transparency and lowering transaction costs, the initiative aims to enhance service reliability and commercial sustainability.
If successfully implemented, the proposed EAC Regional Roaming Framework could modernise ONA to reflect evolving technologies, shifting traffic patterns and new market realities.
A work in progress
The One Network Area remains one of East Africa’s most visible integration achievements. Yet its uneven application highlights the broader challenge of translating regional agreements into uniform national practice.
Closing policy gaps, realigning market incentives and upgrading operational systems will be essential if ONA is to deliver on its original promise: making East Africa function not just as a common market on paper, but as a digitally connected economic space in practice. For businesses, investors and citizens alike, a truly seamless roaming environment is not merely a telecoms issue – it is a cornerstone of regional competitiveness.
