FNB Connect extends 25c calls

Towards the end of last year, FNB’s service provider announced the country’s lowest global call rates. Recently, the company announced it will be extending this period, allowing FNB clients to continue making calls for a mere 25c.

FNB Connect is extending its 25 cents call rate offering to end of March 2011. Last year November, the bank’s internet service provider announced the country’s lowest global call rates for a period of three months. The offer allowed customers to make calls, either locally or internationally, to any destination whether on a cellphone or landline at a flat rate of only 25 cents.

‚Our decision to extend the offer from 22 January 2011 to end of March 2011 was informed by the overwhelming customer uptake ‚ proving that the South African consumer is in need of low cost communication,‚ says Farren Roper, Operations Manager at FNB Connect. Since the launch of the promotion, FNB Connect has not only witnessed a flurry of new registrations, but has also seen its monthly traffic increase by 400%.

‚We have seen an increase in call volumes being sent to South African mobile networks and a significant amount of minutes being sent to Telkom. African destinations also proved to be very popular, with the most popular destination being Zimbabwe,‚ adds Roper.

The success of the promotion has also had a knock on effect on the ISP’s data product, ‚Connect Surf’, noting a 63% increase in data usage from the commencement of the 25 cents promotion. ‚These numbers bear testament to a rise in consumer confidence – that we are taking heed of their needs, designing innovative products of value, helping them say hello for less and ultimately making a difference,‚ he concludes.