Airtel Uganda has today hiked their data rates. The announcement came from their official Twitter where the Telecom advised their customers to dial its data USSD shortcode — *175# — to see the revised internet data bundles.
Dear Customer, please be informed that effective today 1st Nov 2013, the internet plans have been revised. Dial *175# to select your plan
— Airtel Uganda (@Airtel_Ug) November 1, 2013
Mobile subscribers now get 25 MB instead of 60 MB for UGX 500($0.20) and 100 MB down from 250 MB for UGX 2000($0.79) for 24 hours while monthly data bundles have also reduced from 150 MB to 125 MB for UGX 5000($1.98). This comes almost a month after MTN Uganda stealthily upped up their data rates which now leaves Orange Uganda with steady rates as the cheapest data service provider among the three, a spot that Airtel previously held.
The increase has sparked off outrage from unhappy customers on social media like Twitter user Shahanah
@Airtel_Ug you data plan charges are outrageous! Seriously, this is why people never wanted to be on your network.Thievery at its best!!
— Shanah Shameem (@ShanahJR) November 1, 2013
If you’re an Airtel subscriber, you can dial *175# to see the rest of the revised data plans.
Update: When i demanded to know why the telecom has suddenly hiked their data rates, it claimed that it’s responding to what other players in the industry are doing — in this case MTN Uganda which first started off the price hikes.
Hi @oquidave @UCCUg ,We have adjusted our Internet Data prices so as to be at par with the rest of the industry. #StanAirtelUg
— Airtel Uganda (@Airtel_Ug) November 2, 2013
We still haven’t got any official reaction from Uganda Communication Commission (UCC) — the industry watchdog whose role is to regulate the industry and protect the consumers.
Image: capdigital.com