lug_: MTN new rates, they are back at Number 1

[Kiggundu Mukasa]

We really have to keep this list to Linux stuff but this evening I picked up the paper and could not but notice the huge full page add from MTN.  They also sent me an SMS (three actually, I think someone was trying to make a point :=) :=)).  And since I have been roasted by many in MTN for my emails, I owe them one on their new move.  As usual DO NOT FORWARD this mail.

My first thoughts were that this is akin to the OMO add that is playing on radio these days.  The one with the little girl and her mother where the little girl is saying that the new product is "better than OMO"  and in the end the new product is New Improved OMO.

So now we have "Its better than YelloGo" its..... "its new improved YellowMax".  Although I am so confused by the names YellowGo, PayGo, YellowMax.  Just a suggestion I would give to all networks. have two products Wanainchi and Baraka or something that relates to the society as a whole.  By now everyone knows its a pre-paid system and the consumer really cares about the rates and does not care about the product description.  This is shown by users calling the product on all networks "pay as you go".  

An old adage says "It takes a big man to admit he is wrong".  I take my hat off to MTN for admitting they were wrong.  After all if they were not wrong, we would not have the wonderful rate change. 

After the firefighting (to the point of putting the COO on Capital Radio to defend the rate increase) we now have the rates they should have announced in the first place.  THANK YOU MTN.  Below are my new rate comparisons for all three networks (using my spending figures so you plug in yours and see what happens for you).

What I would really like is for MTN to run a full page add saying that it is now cheaper to call Celtel from MTN than from Celtel and start a rate war that will stop only when all local calls on all networks are free :=).

Rate Analysis (peak rates only):
MTN staff please excuse me if I get the product names wrong.  The message of the rates will still get through!

Firstly we assume that no one on any network calls anybody on another network.

We have already seen how with MTN before I used to spend 210,000/= per month and get 650 minutes of airtime.

Now with the new lower PayGo I would spend 220,000/= per month and get 714 minutes (at 280/= per minute with 20,000/= as the monthly fee)
If I use YellowMax (no monthly fee) 220,000/= per month gets me 666 mins (at 330/= per minute)

With CELTEL If I use the same baseline figure I would spend 220,000/= per month and get 647 mins (at 340/= per min)

On Mango, for either use Mango Standard (at a rate of 340/= per min) or Mango Xtra (at a rate of 320/= per 45 seconds which works out to 320*60/45 = 426/= per min).

So Mango Standard would have me spend 220,000/= per month and get 647 mins
Mango Xtra would have me spend 220,000/= per month and get approximately 516 mins

Now we use MY real calling patterns (peak rates assumed for all networks).

As stated in the earlier email, this phone is for business.  My self-analyzed calling pattern shows that about 70-80% of my calls are on the MTN network with the rest on other networks.

So I took the average rate for calling other networks (for each network separately) and put in the numbers and here is what I get.

At 80% calls to MTN (spending 220,000/= per month.  80% is my worst case scenario)

MTN PayGo: I spend 160,000/= at 280 = 571 mins and then 40,000/= at 330/= gives 121 mins for a total of 692 mins (remember only 200,000/= on airtime and 20,000 on monthly fees)

MTN YellowMax: I spend I spend the same rate for all networks so the split does not matter so it is still 220,000/= giving me 666 mins at 330/= per minute. 

Celtel: Since one rate to all networks I still get 647 mins for my 220,000/=

Mango Standard: 176,000/= at 420 gives 419 mins plus 44,000/= at ((430 + 320) /2) = 375 gives 117 mins for a total of 536 mins

Final conclusion is that for my calling patterns, the NEW MTN rates now ensure that I actually spend significantly more time talking than I did before for the same price. A true saving!  In addition for my calling pattern, MTN are now the cheapest/pocket-friendly cellular provider in Uganda.  Now if they could get their data working for pay as you go ... like the other networks do (and at the talk rates ... like the other networks do), I would be very very happy.

I am not going to do any more of these cellular analysis things.  Even if everyone else drops their rates.  I am scared I will soon be asked to include the discount rates on the weekends for each network.

The logic for me is unbeatable.  My money is going back to MTN.

Kiggs

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Kiggundu Mukasa                # Computer Network Consultancy###
KYM-NET LTD.                   # Intranets & Internet Solutions#
Plot 80 Kanjokya Street
P.O. Box 24284 Kampala, Uganda             
Tel:     +256 77 972255
+256 71 221141
Fax:     +256 31 262122
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