Questions for Areeba Ghana
I was priviledged to have activated Areeba’s GPRS, way back in December 2004. I did a review, about the experience, on Mobile Africa: Spacefon Areeba’s GPRS. A preview. The cellular network was then branded “Spacefon Areeba”.
Areeba Ghana started billing for the service, 17 months later. I did not activate the service when the billing began, because I found the charges prohibitive, and the activation fee, ridiculous. The process was that customers had to go the nearest customer service centre, and must have at least 150 units on their prepaid account, and would bring along a “registration fee” of 50,000 cedis. Being a heavy internet user, I found paying 19,500 cedis per megabyte (MB) of data, way too high. I could easy use up almost 400,000 cedis each day and that would not be economical.
Tigo’s GPRS has been lousy in recent times, where I stay. So yesterday, after buying a new Nokia 3230, I decided to go activate GPRS on my Areeba number. I went through all the process, but almost 24 hours later, I’m told to report again at their nearest office with my receipt. The service is not activated on my phone! The cheek of it. To think that I went through all that bureaucracy for nothing? I have called customer service 3 times, but now have to go their, again. Waste of man-hours.
Why is Areeba charging an activation fee for GPRS when they’d eventually make profit from the customer using the service anyway?
Why is Areeba not activating the service over-the-air, like Tigo is doing? What kind of network would insist on having their customers visit their office to have a service activated? Even if they must charge for activation, why not simply deduct from the customer’s airtime? Why insist on the customer’s physical presence?
Tigo’ GPRS is simple and straight-forward. Go to www.tigo.com.gh and click on “CLICK HERE TO GET GPRS NOW >>” right on their homepage. Alternatively send WAP and the name of your phone to 777. eg, send “wap nokia 3230″ to 777 on your Tigo, and the settings would be sent to you via SMS. You activate the settings, re-start your phone later, and you are connected. No activation fees.
Why wouldn’t Areeba make things simple and straight-forward?
Would I care about GPRS if Ghana Telecom was more efficient and had fixed phone lines in more places?
I’m so upset.
Popularity: 3% [?]
Sep 22nd, 2006 at 11:27 am
Sep 26th, 2006 at 11:16 am
Ok. I was at Areeba’s office (Mallam Junction), and a gentleman there put me online in 5 minutes.
I still think Areeba should learn from how Tigo activates GPRS for its subscribers.
Oct 3rd, 2006 at 8:42 pm
You said it all man! too expensive. far too long procedure. waste of time! i’ve used this network since 2002, and i’ve continually criticized those who believe it provides bad service.
i’m beginning to have a change of mind.
wake up Areeba, you’ve been sleeping for far too long!
Oct 11th, 2006 at 3:20 pm
hello
i want units to buy how mach do u sell it
Oct 26th, 2006 at 12:51 pm
David, sorry am joining the debate so late in the game, but your questions about the Tigo way of doing GPRS makes perfect sense, something that is very much anathema to Areeba.
If you’ve been watching TV3 lately, you might have noticed that many of its programmes are being sponsored by TIGO–boy am I SO happY!!
Nov 1st, 2006 at 5:04 pm
[...] We open Ghana voices this week with a complaints-ridden compilation, which begins with a post about wireless mobile Internet. Proudly African blogger David Ajao has some serious questions for Areeba, the country’s leading mobile phone provider, on its provision of wireless mobile Internet using GPRS: “why is Areeba charging an activation fee for GPRS when they’d eventually make profit from the customer using the service anyway?†[...]
Dec 6th, 2006 at 5:46 pm
I THINK THIS DEBATE IS MORE OF POLITICS.IN AS MUCH AS WE CHOOSE TO BE FRANK AT ALL TIMES ,WE WOULD AGREE THAT SUCH A TOPIC MUST NOT BE ON A WEBSITE OF A COMPETITOR.WITH THIS THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY OFFICIAL DEBATE…
IT IS RATHER A MARKETING STRATEGY.LETS BE CANDID……..
Dec 8th, 2006 at 11:11 am
Excuse me “Waxtuz”! What is political about this? Who is the competitor here? Me?
For your information, I have nothing to do with Tigo or Areeba. I’m a subscriber and thats where it ends. I am sharing and views, based on my experience with both cellcos.
Thanks for passing by anyway.
Feb 19th, 2007 at 3:59 pm
I want to know the meaning of shell bonanaza, because I had a message on my phone about that, and how can I get access to the money.
Feb 21st, 2007 at 10:04 pm
“Shell bonanza”?
Most probably a scam. Beware!
Dec 9th, 2007 at 4:52 pm
i think areeba has to do something about its network because its credit transfer because its giving too much problem to retailers and subscribers.and the freenight calls because it helps those of us who have so many business calls to make to end it up in the night
Jan 2nd, 2008 at 5:04 am
about the tigo gprs,u supposed to send wap your phone model and send it to 777 yeah i did but still i can’t get the gprs on ma pone.i went to the website to register but still and above it all when u call thei hotline hardly before u get an agent unlike onetouch and mtn so i think they shpuld improve on it.
Apr 18th, 2008 at 2:07 pm
i think christabel is right, this thing has happened to alot of tigo users who are now switching towards onetouch
May 21st, 2008 at 12:13 am
:mad:can someone please explain why i can’t download even a megabyte of data although i have enough space on my fon.i called the tigo help line but they couldn’t give any tangible explanation. this is not the case with onetouch.:mad:
Jun 2nd, 2008 at 7:55 pm
im a young boy of 22 in the university. i want to work with u . i just want to be part of this company. especially as a customer care. how do i go about it. i will be much grateful if u lead me.
Jul 3rd, 2008 at 11:23 am
Connect me 2 GPRS.my #is 0275335535 Motorola L6
Jul 10th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
Calling tigo head office is very difficult unlike one touch. The agents are always busy and i don’t know what actually keeps them busy all day. Agents should answer callers as fast as possible cos it waste time calling.
Sep 5th, 2008 at 11:43 am
MTN is not so expensive as ppl thinkbcoz at the end u mk more profit.I am a phone mania n i use all the networks in Ghana with GPRS installed on them n i can assure u MTN is the best.I am not promoting them but if u like browsing on ur phone as i like u should better go for it.U have a gud service for ur money