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Cell C's big, cheap data bundles to shake up market

Johannesburg - Mobile network operator, Cell C has slashed its data packages in what is sure to cause upheaval in the data market place.

Cell C said falling data prices in South Africa enabled it to engineer competitive packages. Its new bundle deals now rival Telkom’s FreeMe bundles.  

The operator's new deal introduces a range of five new competitive packages as part of their Connector plans to compete directly against Telkom’s competitive FreeMe bundles. 

The five new Connector Plans offer customers up to 50GB data and 3000 any-net voice minutes monthly.

All the plans are available as SIM only on a month-to-month, or customers can opt for a 24-month contract term. Patrons can also choose a device and then pay off the device over the contract term.

READ: ‘Cheap’ FreeMe packages help boost Telkom’s earnings

“The way customers connect and communicate continues to evolve and we as mobile operators need to make sure our customers are getting what they want, and how they want it, enabling them to always be connected,” said Cell C CEO Jose Dos Santos. “We know that customers don’t want to bbe concerned about their cost to communicate every month."

Dos Santos said the latest packages should give customers peace of mind, while allowing them the flexibility to communicate the way they want to. 

Cell C expects Connector 1 to be one of the most popular packages, providing customers with an unprecedented 3GB of data, 1000 SMSes and 1000 minutes at only R499 per month. Connector 2 will offer the same deal as the first package with a 5GB allocation of data for R599 per month. The most expensive package will offer 50GB for R1499

Connector 3 provides 10GB of data, 2000 inclusive any-net minutes, 1000 SMS and free Facebook for R799. One of the premium packages, Connector 4 includes the same, but with a bulked up data allocation of 20GB for R999.

Voice minutes are also not limited to on-net calls, but can be used for calls to any local network at any time of the day. 

Further Cell C is adding free Facebook access, while maintaining its R12 WhatsApp bundle.

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Telkom launched FreeMe in July 2016, with packages including “a simple plan, available in six data sizes”. Telkom's six data size contracts are priced at monthly costs of R99 for 1GB, R149 for 2GB, R299 for 5GB, R399 for 10GB, R599 for 20GB and R999 for unlimited data, while also offering voice calls, SMSs and a 200MB data allocation for social networking.

READ: Vodacom 'responds' to Telkom FreeMe data deals

Shortly after the launch of FreeMe, Vodacom introduced a plus (+) package to almost all of its offerings, which saw a R40 increase in the cheapest package, but offering 300MB more and 125 SMSs less. 

Its most expensive RED VIP+ contract is R100 more expensive, than the standard RED VIP but gives customers 5GB more.

Data from local contract research firm Tariffic indicated that Telkom’s FreeMe packages are priced lower than MTN’s My MTNChoice+ packages, Cell C’s previous ChatMore and Pinnacle packages, and Vodacom’s SmartMore Data deals.

Cell C’s Connector plans will be available from 2 June and will be exclusively available through Cell C’s online channel at www.cellc.co.za. 

Existing customers who are due for an upgrade can contact 084 143 and move to Connector. 

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