If 2015 was a bad year for MTN in Nigeria, and more recently in Rwanda – and it really, really was – then 2017 could be worse for their Uganda subsidiary, MTN Uganda.
After months of what the customers have termed as ‘unending cheating’, the telecom is in a tight corner with thousands of their customers questioning the “fast depletion” of their paid for data.
Judging by the number of wild, unhappy customers who have taken to Social Media to express their dissatisfaction with MTN’s data billing systems, all isn’t well at MTN towers.
Twitter and Facebook have in recent weeks been awash with endless complaints and insults as customers say enough is enough.
Customers now threaten to ditch the once giant telecom and some already indicate they have crossed to other telecoms, especially Africell.
Menacing Gonya (crocodile)
Weeks back, MTN announced reduced data rates for most of their packages, giving customers some bit of excitement.
For as cheap as 200 shillings, one easily gets 10 Mbs. The price for the same was previously 250 shillings. 60 MBs now costs 1,000 shillings up from 1,200 while 25 Mbs go for just 500 shillings.
But while the cheers were still going, MTN’s known data symbol – the crocodile-aka gonya swung into action, eating up data at very fast rates and chopping customers MBs like a real crocodile eating up prey.
This to nearly all unhappy customers is the cause of MTN’s troubles.
Twakoowa!
As the data prices went down, the speed of depletion was double the normal which was cause for alarm and before MTN knew it, tempers were flaring – customers swearing – threatening to move.
First to throw in the towel on MTN was popular female artist Irene Namubiru. Using her facebook page, Irene said it was the end of the road for her and MTN after years of her being on the network.
“Mtn Uganda, I am sad that I have to leave you. It has been 10 great years, but I cannot stay anymore” Irene signed out
Gonya rewards Africell
It is always said, one man’s poison, is the other’s food. Rivals Africell and Airtel are the biggest winners in MTN’s misfortune.
And their social media teams have not been sleeping. One customer using the handle @kabshalohaofficial on Twitter was gleefully welcomed by Africell after he announced he was ditching MTN.
He tweeted “@mtn this is too much, I can’t keep spending all this money on data. I am now officially joining @africellUG”.
Africell was quick to respond, in process also hailing MTN to join them:
”@kabshalohaofficial & @mtnug, you are welcome to the Africell family. Kindly share your location for directions to the nearest Africell shop”
We couldn’t access what transpired in the DM conversation but you anyone can tell that that was another of the customers lost on the side of MTN.
With most millennials increasingly turning to data to communicate, data or MBs as many call it, has become a basic need and the telecom that offers the best packages is bound to win.
Some have interpreted MTN’s woes to be a result of panicky move to match Africell’s data offer especially the now trendy SWIFT Bundle and Airtel’s Massape.
