WTF!!!Safaricom Halts “Unlimited Data” Internet And Blames Peculiar Customers

Giant telephony firm, Safaricom, is admitting that it made a mistake in its decision to introduce unlimited internet access at Ksh 200 per day, blaming customers for the decision to discontinue the service.

Last week, CEO Bob Collymore said some data users were misusing the bundles by ''downloading too much''. He gave an example of some users downloading 35 gigabytes a week, which on an ordinary bundle would cost Ksh 23,000."On unlimited we are losing money, so I will say as I said for voice, I will not sell data at loss," Collymore said. "I really do not think we should continue with the unlimited , everyone should pay for what they are using."
Maybe it is all about what Michael Joseph called Kenyan's peculiar habits. Although a business analyst opined that Safaricom ought to have done some pilot/assessment before rolling out the service.
''They look - and feel - so bad having to withdraw this service,'' the analyst said.''Whereas we regret the inconvenience that these changes may cause to our customers, we wish to give our assurance that we shall continue to offer exciting and affordable data products that will meet the demands of our customers,'' Safaricom said in statement published in the newspapers today. It did not repeat the reasons for closing down the service.
Safaricom controls at least 75 per cent of the market in Kenya. Airtel, on its 3.75 g network, is also offering largely erratic unlimited internet for Ksh 150 per day. Orange Kenya also has unlimited internet for Ksh 990 per week.
It is thought that if Safaricom is to be believed, the Orange and Airtel may consider discontinuing the service too. Another struggling company, Yu Mobile, is offering 30-day unlimited data bundle at Ksh 499, but on a low speed internet, which would be appropriate for mobile users.
Across Kenya, hopes rose when fibre optic cables landed, promising fast internet speeds and a massive drop in cost of internet access. That has not been the case as such. In cyber cafes, internet speeds have improved, and the least one can browse is Ksh 50 cents per minute.