First National Bank has announced that its own Internet service provider, FNB Connect, will be increasing the free monthly ADSL data, which it awards to qualifying cheque account customers, from Tuesday, 8 May 2012.
Qualifying FNB cheque account customers will now receive up to 5GB of ADSL data on a monthly basis, just for having the requisite FNB cheque account.
The FNB announcement follows the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) decreasing in the wholesale IP connect (IPC) costs to Internet Service Providers (ISP’s) by 30% as of 1 April 2012.
‚In line with our customer centric approach, it made sense for us to pass on the benefit of the reduction in the IPC costs directly to our customers. With this offer, as well as our free website browsing offers, we are essentially providing free internet data to thousands of qualifying FNB Customers,‚ says Farren Roper, Head of Products and Markets at FNB Connect
The reduction in the IPC costs is hailed by many in the telecommunications industry as a small victory for competition in the ADSL data market. Speculation has been rife over whether ISP’s will see the reduction as a cost efficiency measure or whether the end consumer will see the benefit.
Roper continues ‚We are proud to be the first ISP to pass this benefit on to our clients. We see this as a launch pad for free internet for many FNB customers and for increased internet usage for existing customers. This offer should promote FNB Connect as the rewards offering of choice for customers seeking internet access and the ability to do their online banking, for free.‚
In addition to obtaining up to 5GB of free monthly ADSL data, FNB Connect registered customers also get free data access to any FNB websites like FNB Online, FNB Connect and eBucks. Browsing on social media sites like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube is also free on ADSL between 7-11pm.
In order to redeem the free data, customers are required to register on the FNB Connect website. Qualifying customers will have the data automatically allocated to their accounts. On the website, customers can also access a rewards calculator to see how much free data they qualify for.
‚At FNB Connect we have consistently sought ways to make access to the internet and online banking platforms, either free or more affordable for our clients and this is another way that we can add value to our customers,‚ concludes Roper
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