Cell C inks new roaming deal

The mobile operator has successfully renegotiated its roaming agreement with Vodacom, with the deal now extending to 3G. By Craig Wilson.

Added by Craig Wilson on 17 September 2012.
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Alan Knott-Craig

Cell C has revised its roaming contract with Vodacom, the updated terms of which are effective immediately. The agreement allows Cell C customers to roam on Vodacom’s network where there is limited Cell C coverage.

Though neither party is commenting on the specific terms of the new deal, TechCentral has established reliably that the contract now allows Cell C to roam on Vodacom’s third-generation (3G) mobile network. Previously, the deal extended only to the company’s 2G network.

Cell C also sought a reduction in the rates Vodacom was charging it for roaming in light of recent reductions in mobile termination rates, the fees operators charge one another to field calls on their networks. These fees will drop to 40c/minute in March 2013 and are likely to fall further from 2014.

Cell C said in June that if necessary it would take the matter to the Competition Commission.

CEO Alan Knott-Craig told TechCentral at the time that through the process of cutting termination rates, the Independent Communications Authority of SA had effectively determined the cost of carrying a call.

“Whether you’re roaming or terminating a call, the cost is the same [and this cost] should apply equally to a terminating call or a roaming call,” he said. “A roaming call is just a terminating call in both directions. If anything, roaming costs should be less.”

A Cell C spokesman confirms the roaming agreement has been revised and that the terms are “much more favourable for Cell C” but adds that terms of the agreement are confidential.  — (c) 2012 NewsCentral Media

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  • BritinSA

    Serves as a reminder to those who say they like Cell C, but that they won’t switch because Cell C doesn’t have the coverage!

  • Lalo

    BritinSA I think you are over-simplifying things here. A blanket statement ”
    Cell C doesn’t have the coverage ” is neither fair nor true. Having a roaming agreement where it makes economic sense is absolutely the way to go. There is a trend of shared infrastructure between operators to lower the operating costs, so I think Cell C is just being reasonable here.

  • BritinSA

    I think you’ve well misunderstood my comment. Its not a critique of Cell C. On the contrary! Try reading it again, more slowly this time?

  • GatoCatSA

    This is why I left MTN and joined Cell C/VC 3 months ago. I now have the benefit of 2 networks available on one contract with excellent rates (99c voice and 15c/MB data!). On MTN I was stuck on one network with bad dropped calls and deteriorating voice and data coverage at my house – no need notifying them of their bad signal – it does not help. With Cell C & VC I now have the best of both worlds. I just love where mobile is going in SA. Keep up the good work Cell C & VC.

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