Mobile Wars-Zain Tell Safaricom to Bend over

The mobile phone price wars today took a new turn when a Zain truck pulled up infront of Safaricom’s corporate headquarters and played the “Bend over” song by dancehall group RDX.

Zain shook up the Kenyan Mobile communications industry when they lowered their call rates last week. The rates that live consumers calling across all networks at 3shillings and 1shilling for sms. This move marked a 50% slash on calling charges a move that has many seen many subscribers switching to Zain.

Safaricom in a move to counter Zain has released its own low call tariff that will be valid for one month. Other mobile operators are yet to release competing offers.

Today’s move marked a new level of aggression in the brand warfare between Kenya’s Mobile industry giants. It will be interesting to see how Safaricom responds.