Vodafone to end unlimited plans on 31 October, introduces new bundles

A Vodafone shop in Kampala. Photo: Twitter (@VodafoneUganda)
A Vodafone shop in Kampala. Photo: Twitter (@VodafoneUganda)

At the end of August, Vodafone Uganda removed unlimited data packages from the plans listed on its website. The company’s communications manager said they were being phased out – although they were still available to customers who had registered before 25 August – and would be replaced by “equally attractive bundles.”

Well, the replacement bundles are now up on the telecom’s website. And the unlimited plans will no longer be available after 31 October, a company representative told Uganda Business News.

Vodafone is now offering three new additional monthly plans, presumably for customers with higher data needs who had been using the unlimited plans. The new bundles are 20GB (at Shs220,000), 40GB (Shs330,000), and 80GB (Shs450,000). Their speeds, according to Vodafone’s website, are uncapped.

vodafone-new-bundles

It is also offering four promotional bundles for current customers and anyone who subscribes before 31 October, according to a company representative. These are 25GB for Shs150,000, 40GB for Shs220,000, 50GB for Shs250,000, and 80GB for Shs350,000, all at speeds of 6mbps. The promotional offer will end on 31 October, however.

Efforts to reach the network’s spokesperson for more information on the changes yielded no results.

Vodafone’s exit from the unlimited data segment leaves Africell Uganda, Smart Telecom, and Smile Telecom as the only three companies still offering unlimited plans. We looked at their plans in detail here.

http://ugbusiness.com/1183/companies/looking-for-the-best-internet-plan-in-uganda-heres-some-data-for-you

There is no way of telling Vodafone’s market share in the industry, and if these changes make for good strategy on the telecom’s part. But with MTN Uganda and Airtel Uganda enjoying a monopoly on voice and mobile money, the battle ground for competition is more likely on provision of data services.

At the moment, Vodafone’s 4G-LTE network is available only in Kampala and Entebbe, while the rest of the country has a 2G/3G voice service.