Airtel

Talk time, air time or top up, airtel money, and data!

Disclaimer...this may not be the most fascinating post but in our work we deal with Airtel nearly daily so it is important that we document this part.

The following explanation gives an idea of how convoluted this business is. It's almost as if they are trying to see how confusing they can make the phone service!!

The service is not too bad but loading it and paying for it is somewhat complicated.  You go into one of the Airtel stores or booths which there are a zillion of them here and you either buy Airtime, Talk time, or Data. If you buy airtime, which they call top up, then you can walk away and later plug in some airtel numbers and decide upon a plan for data or talk time minutes that you would like. Or you can just ask them to put on the talk time and the data for you while you are there.  

For the missionaries each month we are able to buy K350 (about $21) for each Missionary phone. They in turn can then enter in airtel numbers so that they can purchase K200 to get 25 GB data and then the other K150 They use to buy 700 minutes of talk time for 30 days.  You can buy the plan so that it will last for a day, a week, or a month.  Your service ends whenever your minutes or data are used up OR the time period expires, whichever comes first. 

When you have money on your phone, in your airtime account, you can use it to purchase data or talk time for someone else’s phone also. You can use your airtime money to pay utility bills (water/sewer) taxes, TV bill, insurance, and other such things or you can actually go to an Airtel store and take your money back out if you want.  They also have an avenue where you can send money to other people on their phone and they can then go to an Airtel store and get the cash.  Elder Phelps does this for multiple garbage collection people and vendors.

 

These booths are on nearly every corner. I suppose everyone is trying to get a piece of the pie. Or maybe they are just hoping this is their way to fortune???? Hmmmm. I don't think so!

One man, when asked what he would like to do to earn money, replied that he was thinking about setting up an Airtel booth!! Our thoughts, "NO WAY!"  

 

These booths are everywhere...some in use...some vacant. There are a couple of other phone companies here, like MTN. Airtel though is definitely the leader.

 

We have wondered if this might be corruption at it's finest. Anyone want a phone booth????