Should both high- and low end users smile about Sentech’s latest broadband product offerings?

Yes because it’s clear that Sentech’s latest offerings are tailor-made for both market segments.

Low end users will find Sentech’s offering (package) of a 150 MB for R99 per month appealing to say the least. The celebrations don’t stop there because ‘its 500 MB offering comes in at R 199-00, cheaper than similar services in the market while its 1 GB package is priced at R 299-00’ (Sentech launches cheapest broadband offerings in SA, MyADSL, 28 February 2007).

High low end users will find Sentech’s 2 GB offering at R499 per month fairly priced. Fairly priced because while its ‘a little more expensive than MTN’s R 399-00,’ its ‘still competitively priced when compared with iBurst, Vodacom and CellC’  (Sentech launches cheapest broadband offerings in SA, MyADSL, 28 February 2007).

High end users on the other hand will find Sentech’s 5 GB offering at R699 per month delightful and will turn tables to get their hands on Sentech’s 10 GB offering which go for a low R999 per month.

What has Sentech done to address the high cost of modems that are needed to access a wireless broadband service?

Almost everyone will now be able to enter the wireless broadband market because Sentech has clearly lower the traditional high barrier to enter this market.

You don’t need to spend a fortune in order to get your hands on a modem anymore. You can get a refurbished IPWireless modem for a R100. That’s dirt-cheap, and even if you prefer to get a new modem you won’t need to go and see the bank manager. New modems will now be available at a R1500 if you buy directly from Sentech. It boils down to a R1 100 saving compared to the R2 600 previously charged for a unit. ‘Brand new modems will further be available from Sentech’s partners for R 439-00, VAT inclusive. No contracts will be needed to qualify for these prices’ (Sentech launches cheapest broadband offerings in SA, MyADSL, 28 February 2007).

Why do I have to pay a R1061 more for a modem I can get cheaper at one of Sentech’s partners?

Well, the choice is yours although at first it doesn’t make sense why Sentech is selling the same modems for a lot more.

MyWireless Manager for Sentech SA, Marcel Steyn, explained that Sentech’s partners, NoWire, Nashua Broadband and @lantic, have decided to sell the modems below cost (or subsidize the modem costs) in order to gain customers. In other words, Sentech’s partners are confident about the prospects of Sentech’s products.

Can you give us more info on Sentech’s improved product range?

Sure. ‘Sentech has not only announced drastic price cuts and a speed increase on its MyWireless Flexi products, but has also improved its product range’ (New products from Sentech, MyADSL, 28 February 2007).

Let’s briefly look at each product range:

• MyWireless FlexiPlus – According to Steyn: “Essentially, our FlexiPlus range is offering consumers more bang for their buck. Although the contract pricing remains the same, existing as well as new customers will now benefit from a significant increase in data allocation.”

• MyWireless FlexiLite – According to Steyn: “With MyWireless FlexiLite we are now targeting a large potential customer base, that is users that are still using dial-up modems or with no internet access at all. Indeed, with MyWireless FlexiLite users can now access the Internet with relative ease and utilise all the benefits that come with continuous broadband connectivity at a significantly lower price point.”

• MyWireless FlexiFamily – ‘Sentech said that their MyWireless FlexiFamily was created for families with multiple internet users that don’t necessarily want to share the same PC or modem or apply for a separate contract. For an additional R49-00 per month Sentech has provided subscribers with the option to add an additional user on a separate modem’ (New products from Sentech, MyADSL, 28 February 2007). Additional users can be added on a separate modem for R49 per month. ‘MyWireless FlexiFamily is available at R399-00 per month on a 24-month contract that includes a new MyWireless USB modem or PCMCIA card and 1GB free data per month. One hundred and fifty MB of data will be allocated to additional members who join the account which is then deducted from the main account. Additional members will be offered a refurbished MyWireless modem at R100-00, as well as a unique username and e-mail’ (New products from Sentech, MyADSL, 28 February 2007).

<< Previous    1  [2]  3  4    Next >>