Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Competition is really HEALTHY

Once upon a time I bought a Celtel line at $200 and had to pay Service fee $100 which was a total $300. It hurts me so to think that I once misplaced my celtel number and had to cough another $200 for the same line.

Today, it’s a totally different story. What, with HITS and Warid about to launch? Telecommunication has never been better for the consumer.

Passing through the park I was surprised to hear a vendor call out:

MTN line ya nkumi mbiri ne airtime wako wa lukimi.
MTN Line at 2000 shillings and includes 1000/= worth airtime.


Well, look at DSTV. Thank God for small favours. Wham!!! In comes GTV. Imagine I can now watch my favorite movies at almost half of what DSTV is charging us. Even if the DSTV advert says 70 channels to watch - please ask yourself, surely after a stressful day at the office, the last thing you want to do is watch 70 channels before bedtime - the fact is that you do not need all the 70 channels! Period.

Well, the most you need per night may be one movie or two maximum. Competition has forced DSTV management to introduce new packages like Family/Compact bouquets but always ask yourself are the channels in the bouquet what you like or is this another advertising enticing gimmick.

As if things got even better, I hear there’s Pearl TV coming up. WHAT A Third Pay TV coming up?? Yes, this time owned by our own brothers. You know what that means.

Have you noticed the housing estates that are coming up? Forget the French cut roof tops it is now organized housing estates. It is only God who knows how many of us can afford the likes of the Kensington Houses. Someone out there please come up with something less expensive. The Akright ones are good but a friend of mine called them modern Mizigos. She just put me off.

Well as a consumer it means better quality services and better options. What say ‘all?

3 comments:

The 27th Comrade said...

Well, yeah. In this case, competition is good. I mean ... the free calls thing is what sealed the game. Wow. More competition!!! :o) More! I'm not too turned on by pay TV until I start watching it. ;o)

Anonymous said...

On the real estate thingy -

Sorry, nothing cheaper is going to come your way. Not with the prices of building materials; cement in particular.

I think the answer isn't with cheaper housing (because in Uganda that translates into poorer quality) but with better housing finance options. If you can get a good mortgage deal, invest in a house. Invest young - and plan to redevelop and sell it. Real estate IS the way to go.

Enough lecturing ;-)

leos child said...

the best thing was the free airtime i was sure i was recieving a message from mango saying"you have been banned from ever using the network".but they are joking wavula we shall have nice houses.