Airtel Raises Call Charges to Sh.2.78 as Airtime Tax Takes Effect
Airtel Company has raised the cost of making calls by up to Sh0.78 in response to the increase in the excise duty on airtime and data.
Gathogo Wanjiru 
The telecommunication company in short messages (SMSs) to its subscribers said calls to other networks will cost Sh2.78 per minute up from Sh2 effective Friday.
The changes will hurt subscribers already grappling with reduced spending power due to the adverse effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The review of the call rates follows the increment of excise duty on airtime and data from 15 percent to 20 percent through the Finance Act, 2020.
Mobile data and SMS charges however remain unchanged.
Airtel said in texts to its subscribers on Friday morning, “Dear customer, due to an increase in excise duty from 15 percent to 20 percent from July 2, your call rate is now Sh2.78 per minute.”
Airtel becomes the first telecommunication company to increase the charges of making calls, with Safaricom and Telkom Kenya yet to announce price reviews.
