Namibia and Botswana have agreed to reduce roaming charges between the two nations by February of next year.

During a joint media briefing, Botswana's Minister of Communication, Knowledge, and Technology, Thulagano Segokgo, announced that regulatory bodies in both countries will direct operators to enact this decision.

This reciprocal visit follows Namibian Minister of Information and Communication Technology Dr. Peya Mushelenga's visit to Botswana earlier this year, which emphasised the commitment to strengthen existing bilateral ties.

During Dr. Mushelenga's visit to Botswana, the two ministers agreed to accelerate the harmonisation of roaming charges across the region, with the aim of creating a single digital market.

"Cran and BOCRA have established a joint technical committee on the reduction of roaming charges between the two countries; communications have been sent to operators in both countries, informing them of the decision by Ministries on lower roaming charges between the two countries."

During a joint media briefing, Botswana's Minister of Communication, Knowledge, and Technology, Thulagano Segokgo, said data analysis and a draft report are expected to be finalised by the two regulators by the end of this year.

"Operators would start preliminary negotiations based on the direction provided in the draft report through January 2024, and operators would be given an opportunity to make written submissions to the committee, which they would incorporate into the final report by January 2024."

The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia and the Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority are expected to issue directives to the operators by February next year.

Segokgo further announced that the two regulatory authorities must ensure timely implementation of the new roaming charges at the start of April next year.