Telkom gives a little, takes a little

By Staff Writer for Telkom
Johannesburg, 19 Dec 2002

Telkom is to increase the cost of international call charges to mobile phones in certain countries as of 1 January 2003, but will also reduce the cost of fixed-line calls to a number of foreign destinations.

The telecommunications provider will reduce the cost of fixed-line calls by between 0.25% and 2% to countries such as Switzerland, Australia, France, Italy, the United Kingdom and the US.

Calls to Australia, France, Italy and Switzerland will be reduced to R3.22 per minute during international peak time (Mondays to Fridays from 8am to 8pm) and to R2.90 during international off-peak time (Monday to Thursday from 8pm to 8am and from 8pm on Fridays to 8am on Mondays).

In the UK, such calls will cost R3.35 and R3.01, while calls to the US will be charged at R3.57 and R3.24 per minute during international peak and off-peak times respectively.

A spokesman said calls to fixed lines in India and Nigeria will also cost marginally less - R6.81 per minute during international peak time and R6.41 per minute during international off-peak time.

However, call charges to mobile phones in certain countries would go up, due to a surcharge being levied by foreign mobile operators.

Calls to mobile phones in Australia, France, Italy and Switzerland will cost R3.86 during international peak time and R3.47 during international off-peak time, as of 1 January. Calls to the UK will cost R4.00 and R3.60 during international peak and off-peak time respectively.

Calls to mobile phones in the US will not carry a surcharge and will be billed at the international fixed-line rate.

The cost of calls to fixed lines in Southern African Development Community countries will not change, while calls to mobile phones will carry the foreign operator surcharge.

The Independent Communications Association of SA (ICASA) recently approved the organisation`s new tariff structure for next year.

The new structure will see private users paying an average of 9.9% more on regulated services. Local calls will increase by just over 12%, long distance calls by 12.5% and calls to cellular phones by 5.6%.

A full list of charges to all international fixed-line and mobile destinations can be viewed at http://www.telkom.co.za.