Cell C slashes call cost

Following MTN and Vodacom cutting pre-paid call costs to 79c per minute, Cell C has slashed its price on some products to 66c, confirming a price war between all providers.

Cell C announced today it is reducing its prepaid call rate to 66c per minute, on pure per second billing for prepaid customers. This confirms that all major service providers have entered a price war following the cutting of the mobile termination rate from 40c to 20c.

The consumer has been, and will always be, at the heart of Cell C. It is with great pleasure that we can continue to be the champion that they expect us to be through the introduction of these new rates,” says Cell C CEO Jose Dos Santos.

By turning our own rates upside down, we are telling the consumer that we are still committed to our strategy to change the industry and bring down call costs,” says Dos Santos.

The company’s 99c packages still apply to customers who recharge and receive SUPACHARGE benefits. However, customers will be able to migrate from their current prepaid tariff plan.

This rate is available until 30 September, depending on the outcome of the Mobile Termination Rate Review, and available from 1 June.

A Cell C statement today read:

Over the last six months, we have restructured the business and invested heavily in the network. We have created dedicated sales and customer care services to specifically cater for individuals, families, business people and small businesses that have taken up our contract offers.

Off the back of this investment we are pleased to be able to offer three new postpaid contract products that will suit the pocket, and a 79c flat rate (to any network, anytime) on pure per second billing.

The most important aspect of these contracts is not only the lowest contract flat rate, but also that these contracts are available on a month to month offer. We are confident that we have world-class differentiation and we are offering consumers the chance to give us a try. If they like us, they stay, if they don’t, they can provide 30 days notice,” says Dos Santos.

The new ChatMore suite of products will be available in three varieties, ChatMore Standard, ChatMore 200 and ChatMore 400. All the products will have a flat call rate (any network, anytime) of 79c per minute on pure per second billing.

For those who have their own handset, ChatMore Standard brings the new lower rate with no monthly fees. Customers will only pay for what they use.

On ChatMore 200, customers will received 200 any-net minutes, as well as 150MB of free data, for R159. On ChatMore 400, customers will be given 400 any-net minutes and 300MB of free data, for R319 per month.

Customers that want a handset can look out for special deals on these contracts.

Postpaid customers are often overlooked in special deals, as has been the case with our competitors’ rate cuts. This is our reminder to those customers that all our consumers deserve to be championed and not a select few,” says Dos Santos.

Cell C constantly looks at the value it can bring to its customers and the company is confident new contract customers will find these deals attractive. ChatMore will be available from 1 June.

For two years, Cell C has had the lowest guaranteed flat rate in the market. While it has taken some time for our competitors to respond, we are still pleased to see competition hotting up at last, which is always good news for consumers,” says Dos Santos.

Customers looking to purchase these contract deals can visit any Cell C franchise store or participating outlet. For more information visit www.cellc.co.za.

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