Airtel links Africa and South Asia with One Network

India’s Bharti Airtel has introduced what it claims to be the world’s first free intercontinental incoming roaming service by adding India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka to its One Network roaming service for its African customers. Within 17 African countries, One Network also allows Airtel customers to use their local Airtel SIM cards whilst abroad, giving them access to cheaper rates for calls made, as well as data/value added services and the ability to recharge using local top up vouchers in the country visited. The countries covered by Airtel’s One Network services are: Kenya, Burkina Faso, Chad, Congo Brazzaville, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Madagascar, Malawi, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Certain Airtel subsidiaries are adding extra countries to the scheme; Airtel Uganda has recently added Jordan to the One Network roaming plan for its customers.