Zain turns focus to Short Message Service

Having recruited 1.5 million subscribers in the last two months, mobile operator Zain Kenya is now turning its focus on SMS (Short Message Service).

Zain Kenya has enjoyed increased popularity with the launch of its Vuka tariff campaign. The company's newest offering, Club 20, allows users to send unlimited SMS at the cost of 20 Kenyan shillings (US$0.27) per day.

"Zain will ensure that our customers have access to affordable communication, especially the youth, whose communication needs should be catered for, as they want to communicate on a 24-hour basis at affordable rates," said Rene Meza, Zain Kenya managing director.

Under the Club 20 tariff, subscribers will also be able to make free calls between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. daily.

Recent research by AC Nielsen shows that 51 percent of all new mobile subscribers in Kenya over the past two months chose the Zain network.

Subscribers are selecting Zain because of its superior network quality and affordable in-network and cross-network calling rates, Meza explained. He assured that Zain has invested in wide coverage and is constantly upgrading its infrastructure to meet growing demands.