Telecel has introduced a new fixed payment platform and is offering existing and potential customers new attractive fixed payment contract packages that allow unlimited local calls and bonus text messages and data.
The packages are meant to give customers greater control and flexibility over their cellphone expenditure, as well as attractive bonus usage that could result in them having usage every month worth up to five times the amount of their monthly subscription.
The bonus services range from unlimited local calls made to a single Telecel number of the customer’s choice to completely unlimited local calls, text messages across all networks and unlimited local data, depending on the package.
Those who sign on for one of these packages will also receive priority customer service at Red Desks at all Telecel outlets and from a dedicated Red Customer Care Team in Telecel’s award-winning Call Centre.
“We are excited at this Telecel landmark development and we are fully geared to providing the best customer experience ever for all subscribers who come onto this new service,” stated Customer Operations Director Mrs Zodwa Chinyenze.
Sales & Distribution Director Donald Mupfunya added: “We are fully aware of the need to increase our retail footprint and plans are at an advanced stage to acquire and open additional shops countrywide. We have deployed a full sales force to ensure we reach anyone and everyone wanting to come onto Telecel Red. Just give us a call and we will come to you and advise you on the best plan for you.”
The new product, Telecel Red, consists of a choice of three packages, with an option of either an outright postpaid or flexi (hybrid) choice, each with a credit limit for local calls.
Flexi subscribers can recharge their accounts using a normal recharge card or voucher for usage outside the package benefits and when their credit limit is reached within the month. Usage outside the package benefits includes international calls and international text messages.
Post-paid customers will be billed for usage outside the package credit and benefits. When their credit is used up they will be able to continue to use their line up to a set credit limit. When that limit is reached they will be advised by text message. They will then have to make a payment to continue using the line up to the value of the payment made. There is, therefore, no bill shock with a post-paid Telecel Red package.
There are three options available: a $30 a month package, a $60 a month package and a $150 per month package.
The Telecel Red 30 package is $30 per month. It allows the customer up to $30 worth of local calls, data and text messages per month and unlimited calls to one Telecel number of the subscriber’s choice. It also includes 60 free megabytes of data.
The Telecel Red 60 package allows up to $60 worth of local calls, text messages and data per month, unlimited calls to Telecel numbers, unlimited local text messages and an additional bonus 120 megabyte data allowance.
The Telecel Red 150 package, which costs $150 per month, allows unlimited local calls to any number across all networks, as well as unlimited local text messages and local data.
The unlimited usage in all three packages is subject to the Fair Usage Policy, meaning that if usage is excessively more than could be expected of an average person, usage may be restricted.
Those wishing to take advantage of one of these packages sign a 12-month contract with Telecel, which means they are assured of the benefits of the package continuing for at least 12 months. Where the contract includes provision of a handset, the contract length is 24 months.
Telecel Red packages or bundles are the first packages with unlimited usage to be offered by any network in Zimbabwe.
These value-added packages for contract customers have been made possible by Telecel’s installation last year of a new intelligent network (IN) and a new billing system.
Past Telecel value-for-money deals have been limited to regular pre-paid subscribers, who charge up their account using recharge vouchers or scratch cards.
Telecel Red is, says Telecel Communications & Branding Director Obert Mandimika, an example of the innovation and best value for money promises that were made by Telecel Zimbabwe when it rebranded in February last year.
“We have provided many innovative value-for-money products and services in the past, even before the rebranding, but most of them, such as our Mega Juice card which includes bonus airtime, have been for pre-paid customers who recharge their accounts with recharge cards or vouchers,” he said.
“This is the first time in Zimbabwe that packages with such value for money have been made available to subscribers on the post-paid platform. We are currently the only local network offering a package with unlimited calls, text messages and data.”
Marketing Director Octavius Kahiya added, “Existing contract customers who would like to take advantage of the greater control, flexibility and huge value-for-money services that Telecel Red offers can opt to switch to a Telecel Red contract.
“Non-contract Telecel customers who apply to become Telecel Red subscribers can arrange to retain their existing Telecel number as their Telecel Red number.
“Non-Telecel customers may find it pays them to acquire a Telecel Red contract line and make it their primary number, given the unique value that the free unlimited usage offers them,” he said.
He added that the three Telecel Red packages have been designed with the spending patterns of different consumers in mind. They are ideal for those who currently spend upwards of $30 a month on airtime, texts and data.
While many individuals may want to take advantage of the $30 a month package and even the $60 a month package, the $150 package is likely to be particularly attractive for senior managers and successful business owners, with its unlimited talk time across all local networks and unlimited local text messages and data.
Chief Commercial Officer Ashraf Elguindy commented further: “We have a history of introducing real game changers in this industry locally and this is just another one of them.
“We coined the name Juice and today it has become a household name for recharging. The reduction of pricing of SIM cards to just a dollar was originally introduced by Telecel and revolutionised mobile communications in Zimbabwe.
“We also have introduced other revolutionary products and services, including Emergency Credit, our Caller Ring Back Tunes service (CRBT) Teletunes, value-packed customer-centric data bundles and the value for money enshrined in the ever-popular Mega Juice, which is now being copied by some of our competitors.
“We have always been driven by creating best value for money for our customers and, with the new network upgrades and capacitation we have been investing in, we have more plans in the offing.”
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30 comments
Well done.Hopefully the consumers rush for this initiative and ultimately wins as desired
what does “local data” mean ?
Most likely means data that is hosted within the country’s borders (i.e. data which doesn’t have to go via an international gateway). Most of the sites that end in .co.zw are hosted locally (Herald, other newspapers), but some are not (e.g. google.co.zw and TechZim).
ISPs do most of the most hosting locally, so if the website is on a local ISP’s server, then it’s local data. I’m assuming all ISPs interconnect with Telecel by way of the Zimbabwe INternet eXchange (ZINX)
We’ve been crying for this for years, its definitely a start! I’d be very interested to know what “local data” is exactly on the Telecel Red 150 package though
Local data here refers to data that is used when subscribers are not on
international roaming. The reason we made the distinction was because
we did not want subscribers on roaming to assume their unlimited data
related to roaming which is different and charged separate from the
respective red packages. Roaming data charges are subject to the various
roaming agreements that Telecel has with its various roaming partners
in other countries
Now we talking, isu vemakuhwa totaura zvomene dhora risingapere zvomene!!
Is it possible for them to provide an unlimited package for data only? Like a Telecel Red Data Unlimited (with throttling of course…) for like $25 maybe…
It wouldn’t make financial sense for them. Data plans, limited or unlimited, have to come with a voice subscription of some sort otherwise the MNO would lose a lot of money from you using VoIP and other voice apps.
coming soon
Thank you for your suggestion. Telecel is currently working on something that will mainly be targeted at data once we have finalized we will be sure to share the final product with you. Thank once again for your contribution.
This may sound Capitalism…but I doubt FUP (Fair Usage Policy)
What happens if I run out of credit on say the RED 60 package? Am I able to convert my sixty dollars to Data? more details please!
You can choose to be on the postpaid or flexi option
(a) Postpaid option – you have better control on your monthly spend
• In addition to the unlimited free Telecel to Telecel calls* you get 120MB of free data and $60 free credit.
• Free credit can be used for local calling; local SMS and Data until it is exhausted.
• Any usage outside the free credit and benefits (including international calls and international SMS) will be billed at the end of the billing cycle.
• After exhausting your free credit, Telecel Red 60 allows you to continue calling up to a set credit limit.
• Once your usage reaches the set limit, you will be notified through SMS.
• Upon reaching your credit limit during the month you will not be able to make any calls, text or use data.
• In order to restore usage of your account you may make a payment through any of our payment channels. Any amount you pay will restore your usage worth the amount so paid.
• With Telecel Red there is no bill shock.
(b) Flexi option – you enjoy flexibility (use recharge cards at will).
• In addition to the unlimited free Telecel to Telecel calls* you get 120MB of free data and $60 free credit.
• Free credit can be used for local calling; local SMS and Data until it is exhausted.
• Customers must recharge their accounts for any usage outside the free credit and benefits (including international calls and SMS).
• Customers can use any denomination size scratch cards at will.
• With Telecel Red 60 you have value and total flexibility.
this should be one of the best services telecel has to offer!!! but i think there is an error on “local data”
New Mgt wataura! somehow these MNOs want to force services down our throats surely if they crwd sourced and did thorough market research they wld find that a prepaid unlimited monthly data plan would be a hot seller for say $15-$20 per month in advance like BB internet services in S.A wer u just pay R99 approx $10 and u r sorted for all internet surfing…maybe Net One shld implement that maybe that will jolt them into action
This is definitely an applaudable offering Kudos to Telecel
Makes sense if you consider how often you recharge $1 maybe $2 per day for the month but if you go above $5 the definitely the unlimited package appears to be good however if you do recharge for that amount daily then cross network calls is not an issue just saying…
what if i sign up for the 150 package and start using that line as a cheap fone shop given it has unlimited calls across all networks…?
“The unlimited usage in all three packages is subject to the Fair Usage Policy, meaning that if usage is excessively more than could be expected of an average person, usage may be restricted”
Telecel continues almost unabated
“The unlimited usage in all three packages is subject to the Fair Usage Policy, meaning that if usage is excessively more than could be expected of an average person, usage may be restricted.”…….lol
The packages are governed by Fair Usage Policy (FUP) this means in the event that Telecel suspects abuse or above normal usage they will contact the subscriber or take necessary steps to curb the abuse
The deal is too good to be true. The $150 package will benefit small scale companies or even big organisations by connecting the line through the local PABX, not knowing if the Personal Usage Policy will not deter that.
Fair usage policy is based on normal usage patterns and only in extreme cases of abuse will the subscriber be limited.
this is good viva telecel!!!
Does anyone know just how much data constitutes fair use for these packages? Thats whats going to make or break it for me. Nice effort though, a solid B+
On the local data issue, l think what telecel is saying is that if you access a website which is in Zimbabwe like those at Utande data centre, telecel will not charge for that bcoz it is not going thru international data pipes.
Bt if you access your favourate techzim website(hosted in Atlanta) then you will get charged bcoz telecel hav to also pay fot uplink providers.
Local data here refers to data that is used when subscribers are not on international roaming. The reason we made the distinction was because we did not want subscribers on roaming to assume their unlimited data related to roaming which is different and charged separate from the respective red packages. Roaming data charges are subject to the various roaming agreements that Telecel has with its various roaming partners in other countries
l get it! Thanx
[…] introduced branded suites of products aimed at different market segments. First they introduced Telecel Red, a contract service for individuals; followed by Telecel Business, a contract service for business leaving the prepaid service as the […]