Gateways should cut Kenya long distance

NAIROBI, Kenya, July 5 (UPI) -- International wireless calling rates from Kenya are expected to drop now that two Kenyan providers have obtained international gateway licenses.

The Communications Commission of Kenya announced late last week that Safaricom and Celtel Kenya had been granted licenses that will allow them to avoid using Telekom's circuits for international calls.

The Nation said Wednesday that Safaricom CEO Michael Joseph predicted that his company's ability to route calls through its own satellite earth station could bring rates down as much as 50 percent.

Safaricom over the weekend launched a new Voice over Internet Protocol service that makes use of the new gateway.