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Acting Business Editor
STATE-OWNED mobile phone operator NetOne has introduced a free emergency airtime credit facility that extends 50 cents to any prepaid subscriber. The credit facility has been made free meaning that unlike the Econet and Telecel emergency airtime service, a subscriber who borrows airtime would not have to pay any interest on the emergency top-up.
Econet and Telecel charge 10 percent (5 cents) interest on their emergency airtime credit of 50 cents.
NetOne spokesperson Rutendo Chabururuka confirmed the development.
“It’s very true that we’ve introduced a free emergency airtime facility,” he said, adding that he was working on a press release in that regard.
However, the statement had not been sent to this paper by the time of going to print yesterday.
NetOne subscribers can access the emergency airtime credit facility on the *140# shortcode.
An economic commentator Trust Chikohora said the move by NetOne was meant to counter competition from the two other mobile network operators, Econet and Telecel.
“It’s just about rivalry amongst the country’s three mobile phone operators. The emergency free airtime by NetOne is meant to assist the company in increasing its subscribers’ base and volumes as you might be aware that the information communication technology industry is high-tech business where players have to come up with attractive ideas to outstrip rivals,” he said.
He said the move by NetOne was likely to sustain its viability as sales volumes and subscribers’ base was likely to increase.
“As you might be aware, of the three mobile network operators, NetOne is the smallest in terms of subscribers’ base. It’s free emergency airtime credit service will likely result in the company sustaining its viability,” said Chikohora.
An economist Dr Davison Gomo echoed similar sentiments adding that NetOne is a public utility thus it was imperative for it to address the needs of the poor.
“Companies look for clear strategic decisions to create market space for themselves and in my view, NetOne has taken a brilliant piece of marketing to increase its customer base as well as addressing the needs of the poor since it’s a public utility.
“However, subscribers don’t just shift direction so NetOne should come up with more comprehensive packages to attract subscribers to shrug off competition from other rivals,” he said.
The emergency airtime credit facility was not only peculiar to Zimbabwe’s telecommunications industry as the concept was also available in South Africa.
Cell C South Africa also has the emergency airtime service, which it was running at a cost.
Online Reporter