For Safaricom and Airtel, blow after blow in interminable price wars

Safaricom has taken price wars in the cutthroat telco industry a notch higher with the launch of voice calls and data packages aimed at countering perennial competitor Airtel which runs a similar service under the Unliminet banner.

The move by Safaricom will be a hard tackle for Airtel which also offers free WhatsApp in its Amazing Data bundles portfolio.

While launching the new bundles on Friday , Safaricom’s Chief Customer Officer Sylvia Mulinge said that the bundles offer customers five price options including Ksh 1,000, Ksh 2,000, Ksh 3,000, Ksh 5,000 and Ksh 10,000 for a 30-day bundle

Airtel’s most expensive monthly Unliminet bundle retails at Ksh2, 000 (12 GB, 1200 minutes and 100,000 sms) while the cheapest goes for Ksh 500 (500 MB, 100 minutes, 500 sms).

“The All in One Monthly Bundles have been tailored to fit the connectivity needs that our customers face today and allow them to plan based on their budget,” said Ms Mulinge

Safaricom customers who prefer data-only packages can choose from a 5 GB bundle for Ksh1, 000, 15 GB for Ksh2, 000 and 25 GB for Ksh3, 000.

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Kenya’s leading telco by market share is also dangling enticing options for heavy data users who will now have a plethora of options at their disposal including a Ksh1,000 bundle (4 GB and 200 minutes), Ksh 2,000 bundle (12GB and 600 minutes) and Ksh3,000(20 GB and 300 minutes).

In similar vein, to meet the growing demand for data as smartphone users transition to heavier app usage, Safaricom has also introduced two new packages offering 35 GB and 1,500 minutes for Ksh 5,000 a month and 50 GB and 3,500 minutes for Ksh 10,000.

Call enthusiasts will have the choice of voice heavy bundles, starting at 1 GB and 400 minutes for Ksh 1,000.

Other bundles on this option include 3 GB and 1,000 minutes for Ksh 2,000; 5 GB and 1,500 minutes for Ksh 3,000; 10 GB and 2,500 minutes for Ksh 5,000 and 20 GB and 7,500 minutes for Ksh 10,000.

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The move by Safaricom also comes days after Airtel ended its free Airtel to Airtel voice calls and Sh1 bob per minute Airtel to other networks festive season campaign which ended on January 31.

Sources also indicate that Airtel is in merger talks with Telkom to create single outfit to take on Safaricom.