BeMobile cheapest in phone charges

GOTHATAONE MOENG
Staff Writer | Friday May 13, 2011 00:00

Even with the new phone call and Internet tariffs beginning May 1st BeMobile has maintained its position as the cheapest in mobile phone charges.  A prepaid BeMobile user uses P1.32 per minute to call all national networks, during both peak and off-peak hours. This is what BeMobile charged even before the implementation of the new tariffs.

In contrast, Mascom and Orange prepaid users, calling the same network during peak hours, will now use P1.35 per minute.  Before the reduction, Mascom users were charged P1.80, while Orange users were charged P1.75.  

Off-peak, Orange-to-Orange calls still cost P0.875, while Mascom-to-Mascom calls now cost P0.85, a five-thebe decrease from their previous P0.90 charge.  Orange prepaid calls to other national networks (both mobile and fixed) during peak hours now cost P1.65 per minute; a 10thebe decrease from the previous P1.75 charge. 

Mascom prepaid users will use P1.70 per minute to call other national networks during peak hours. With post-paid users, BeMobile is still the cheapest network.  Calls to all national networks cost P1.14 per minute, regardless of the package one uses. On the other hand, the cheapest Orange-to Orange calls during peak hours will cost P0.99 per minute, beneficial to the Talk 550 and Talk 275 users, while the most expensive now cost P1.29 per minute under the Orange 80 and Orange 40 packages.  Mascom-to-Mascom calls for the network's consumer clients will cost P1.20 per minute during peak hours.

The new tariffs come as a result of a study undertaken by the BTA in 2010, which recommended that a reduction in costs be implemented.  The reduction in costs also affects internet charges.