MTN’S MAJOR DATA PRICES CUT

EZULWINI – Get 10 megabytes (mb) of data for only E2.

 This follows a major data price cut by giant telecommunications company MTN Eswatini. The Cheif Executive Officer (CEO) Wandile Mtshali, in an event attended by Acting Minister of Information, Communications and Technology (ICT) Manqoba Khumalo, announced the implementation of an overall review of 32 per cent in prepaid data bundles. For post-paid, the review is up to 70 per cent. 

At its headquarters at Mahlalekhukhwini House in Ezulwini yesterday, MTN launched a new campaign styled ‘You Deserve the Best’ alongside the new data prices. This is the fifth major data prices review since the beginning of the company’s data price transformation programme in 2016.

Most of the packages are with immediate effect, while some will be staggered. 

Cheapest

MTN has introduced bundles styled Freedom for prepaid customers which do not expire. They replace the Daily WOW bundles which used to expire after 24 hours. As a result, one gets an extra 2mb for the cheapest bundle (E2). For E10 you can get up to 65mb that do not expire.

On top of the major cut, there are new ‘exciting’ bundles for prepaid styled Tik Tok. Through the latter, one will get access to the Tik Tok short videos platform. A daily bundle for 100mb costs E5. A monthly bundle under this package costs E50.

Another development for prepaid is the introduction of an all-in-one social bundles that covers Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter and Instagram.  For E50, one gets 500mb for a  month.  The cheapest all-in-one social bundles (30mb) cost E5. However, the separate bundles for each social network will also be maintained.

For post-paid customers, the changes come with the introduction of two new bundles; increased volume and price reduction of up to 70 per cent. Following the ‘new normal ‘enforced by the advent of COVID-19, e-learning data bundles have also been introduced for post-paid customers.  A

 monthly e-learning one gigabyte (gb) costs E70. However, the latter will be accessible to pre-identified learning institutions.

Off-net minutes for calling other networks have also been introduced for post-paid.

Mtshali highlighted that the changes were introduced following complaints suggesting that data was expensive.

“We’re also offering a 100 per cent bonus that takes the same validity as the purchased bundle for both the weekly and monthly WOW bundles. The bonus bundles will be used between 11pm and 5am.

“We’ve introduced and we’re officially launching a universal short code which our customers can use to subscribe and unsubscribe to any of our digital services in the comfort of their homes. 

The new short code is *585#,” Mtshali said.  The CEO expressed hope that the release of the new spectrum would continue to assist their ability to service increased customer demand in a more cost-effective manner.

 In reaction to the development, the minster thanked MTN for delivering on its promises, saying the cut in prices would come in handy in the ease of doing business. 

He said she was personally relieved as legislators in the ICT portfolio were causing him sleepless nights over the price of data. 

 “It is a step in the right direction and a game changer. Businesses and investors usually look at the cost of data,” said the minister.

Reduced

Khumalo said the reduced data price was just what the doctor ordered, as Eswatini was among countries with high cost of data.

 Issues on the talks between the Eswatini Posts and Telecommunications Corporation (EPTC) and MTN Eswatini regarding the termination of their Joint Venture Agreement expectedly emerged during yesterday’s deliberations but the minister said he was in no position to say when would the issue be resolved but conceded that one of the hindrances was an undisclosed amount of money government needed to cough up to facilitate the deal.

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