MTN has clarified a press statement it sent out yesterday, which claimed "lowest international call rates to key African destinations" had been introduced for cash-strapped consumers contending with "financially strenuous times".
According to the operator, thanks to its new rates, consumers would "be able to talk to loved ones living in Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Nigeria, Lesotho and Swaziland without having to empty their pockets". MTN said its new "lowest" rates started from 75c per minute.
While the initial press statement gave the 75c figure as the lowest rate callers will pay, it failed to mention a few key conditions pertinent to consumers, including the fact that Nigeria is the only African destination where the 75c per minute cost applies. Calls to any other African destination will cost more than double the minimum rate.
A comprehensive list of call rates - subsequently distributed to media and available on the operator's Web site - shows that MTN customers will pay 75c per minute for calls to Nigeria, but calls to the other four said African destinations will set them back by between R1.59 (Lesotho and Mozambique) and R3.89 (Zimbabwe) per minute.
The new rates only apply to MTN prepaid and hybrid (top-up) customers and do not apply to contract customers. MTN says the rates advertised are part of a promotion that is set to end on 30 September, unless the operator decides to extend it. Calls are charged on a per-second basis.
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