Re-engineering its 1800MHz spectrum from 2G voice to 4G LTE has allowed Telkom Mobile to offer its new data-led mobile phone packages.
Unlike the majority of mobile phone contracts in the market today, which are based on voice minutes with data added on at an extra cost, Telkom Mobile now offers data-only or data and voice contracts for all consumers.
Because the network is LTE, it will give users good speed, quality and throughput, says Attila Vitai, CEO of Telkom Consumer.
The new FreeME packages attempt to get away from the complicated bundles that are currently the norm, and aim to give users access to data, which is what they mostly use.
“Telkom FreeMe offers our customers smartphone plans that liberate them from everything they’ve ever hated about their network,” Vitai says. “Data has become the central requirement for most smartphone users, so that is what we have prioritised.
From today, customers will choose the amount of data they want from a simple plan, available in six data sizes, and with no hidden costs and no confusing contracts.
“We have listened to our customers and we know that they are data hungry – so that is what we are giving them: six simple plans in six data sizes,” says Vitai.
“In addition, we are offering free texts, free high quality IM calls, free calls to Telkom Mobile and Telkom Fixed Line numbers and free WiFi across all six plans and, on our two top end products, free calls to any network as well.
“We have reviewed our spectrum capacity to allocate it more efficiently to achieve greater coverage and deliver faster data speeds and ultimately drive Over The Top services,” he adds.
“This has allowed us to bypass the interconnection fees charged by other networks to offer our customers true value innovation. With zero rated calls over WhatsApp, Viber and BlackBerry BBM – our customers now have access to over 1 billion call options worldwide and over 6000 WiFi hotspots absolutely free.”
The top two data packages (20Gb and unlimited data) are priced at R599 and R999 respectively. They include free calls to any network, free text messages and free WiFi.
The remaining four packages (1Gb, 2Gb, 5Gb and 10Gb data packages) are priced between R99 and R399. These all include free texts, free on-net calls (to Telkom mobile phone and landlines), free texts and free WiFi.
Telkom also plans to introduce online ordering soon.
