Airtel in deal with 14 global telcos for cheap roaming

Firm has joined the Bridge Alliance in a pact that allows Airtel’s subscribers to access voice and data services through the partners’ network. Photo/FILE  NATION MEDIA GROUP

By OKUTTAH MARK

In Summary

• Airtel said it has joined the Bridge Alliance, which is made up of 14 mobile phone firms, in a pact that allows Airtel’s subscribers to access voice and data services through the partners’ network
• The countries covered by Bridge Alliance operators include Australia, Bangladesh, East Timor, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Macau, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand

Bharti Airtel has signed a partnership deal with an alliance of global telcos that will see it offer cheaper roaming services outside the 17 countries that the Indian firm operates in.

The firm on Monday said it has joined the Bridge Alliance, which is made up of 14 mobile phone firms, in a pact that allows Airtel’s subscribers to access voice and data services through the partners’ network.

The countries covered by Bridge Alliance operators include Australia, Bangladesh, East Timor, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Macau, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand.

The alliance has 714 roaming agreements including 238 each for voice and data as well as 238 for Pre-Paid services.

The deal will see Airtel benefit from discounted roaming rates agreed among the partners as opposed to the commercial market rates levied between the operators before the deal.

“Airtel Africa will be able to extended its geographical reach, simplified and competitive data roaming and voice services,” Alessandro Adriani, CEO of Bridge Alliance, said.

Airtel did not provide the discounted rates by the time we were going to press.

Roaming deals

The Indian firm will reciprocate by providing cheaper roaming deals where the 14 other operators don’t have a presence.

Roaming is a service that enables a mobile phone customer, while outside the geographical coverage area of their home network, to access services they subscribe to while at home.

Andre Beyers, chief marketing officer at Airtel Africa, said the 17 Airtel operations across Africa will join the alliance and gain access to the latest Bridge Alliance enterprise and roaming services.

“It is important to be part of a strong alliance which can enhance the efficiency of our business operations,” Beyers said in a statement.

The partnership is also expected to enable Airtel to provide tailored solutions to serve enterprises wishing to procure mobile services regionally.

Additionally, the partners expect to share their expertise, research and empirical evidence gathered from other markets within the alliance.

Bridge Alliance is a global mobilenetwork made up of 14 operators serving over 500 million customers, while Airtel has operations in 20 countries across Asia and Africa.