Indian telecom service provider Aircel has offered 50 MB free data on Facebook for 2 months for new mobile users and 1 month for existing customers. Earlier, Uninor announced a cost effective Internet package for the social media access.
Post 50 MB usage, Aircel will charge customers at 2 paisa per 10 KB.
In addition, Aircel – as part of its Facebook for All program – announced Rs 14 package for 100 MB on Facebook for 28 days and Rs 5 for 25 MB for 5 days. This means you can access Facebook on Aircel network for 50 paisa per day. This compares with 50 paisa for an hour of Facebook on Uninor network.
The offer is available for all new Aircel prepaid connections.
The strategy is to enhance mobile data revenue by adding more Facebook social media customers to Aircel network.
Since Aircel does not have 3G in all its circles, you need to be happy with 2G speeds wherever it does not have 3G access.
On 10 March, Uninor, the Indian telecom subsidiary of Telenor, said Gujarat, Maharashtra and Goa will see Uninor’s Sabse Sasta Facebook and Sabse Sasta Whatsapp that will be available for 50 paisa for an hour of Facebook and Re 1 for a day of Whatsapp.
Uninor to bet on Internet than SMS with Facebook and Whatsapp offers
Under the service, Aircel enables its customers to network and be socially active on Facebook in nine different languages. Aircel mobile subscribers can access Facebook Application, Facebook Messenger and Mobile version on their existing or new connections.
Over 75 million people access Facebook through their mobile phones in India and more than 60 percent of Aircel customers who have data enabled handsets consume Internet on their phones.
The service is available in Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi and Maharashtra. The operator will launch the service in the rest of the circles shortly.
Aircel has been ranked 4th in top telecom brands on Facebook globally by number of fans.
Sunil Kuttam, VP – data and devices, Aircel, said: “The company may add WhatsApp messaging services as well to strengthen its engagement with the young population. Though we understand that OTT players will take away some of our revenue, we will have strong mobile Internet users to add on to the growing revenue streams.”
OTT is a concern for several telecom operators.
“It’s (OTT) a funny situation. We want customers to utilize both social media and messaging services. But our Internet revenue will grow. There will be a hit on our messaging revenue if our mobile users use WhatsApp messaging services,” said Morten Karlsen Sorby, nominated CEO of Uninor.
Nokia Solutions Networks (NSN) India head Sandeep Girotra today mentioned that Indian telecoms need to move to a customer centric model to monetize their mobile services from a network centric approach. The initiatives of both Aircel and Uninor reflect their move towards a customer centric approach.
Baburajan K
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