Shoprite group to launch mobile network

The company said that k’nect mobile’s key differentiator is simplicity, with flat call and data rates, and no complicated tiers.

CAPE TOWN, March 24 (ANA) – Retail company Shoprite Holdings announced on Tuesday that it will be launching its own mobile virtual network operator in April.

According to a statement issued by the retail giant, k’nect mobile will offer competitive rates and several other rewards to customers.

The company said that k’nect mobile’s key differentiator is simplicity, with flat call and data rates, and no complicated tiers.

“Airtime, data bundles and rewards only expire after 60 days, rather than the more common 30-day expiry,” said the statement.

The company said that the new mobile network will charge 50c a minute all-day k’nect to k’nect calls, and 99c per minute all-day calls to other networks. It will cost the consumer 15c per megabyte for any size data bundle, up to 1GB.

Furthermore, the company said that the new network will offer users Xtra rewards.

The company said that customers using a k’nect mobile SIM card will also benefit from zero-rated data on selected Shoprite and Checkers websites and apps, including the Money Market Account, Computicket website and the group’s jobs portal.

“k’nect mobile is part of our ever-growing suite of fintech products designed to better serve our customers. We’ve spent a lot of time understanding how a mobile network can add value to our customers’ lives, and our solution is an easy-to-understand network that offers straightforward call and data rates as well as tangible rewards,” said Jean Olivier, general manager financial services.

The company said that the prepaid cellular network has partnered with digital enabler FREI One Digital and piggybacks off the mobile network infrastructure of Cell C, which has a roaming partnership with MTN.

– African News Agency (ANA); Editing by Yaron Blecher