I’m sure we can all agree that bundle prices are insane. Econet (and other Internet Service Providers) have been having a price hike competition due to the ever-increasing Bond-USD exchange rates.
The *143* USSD shortcode has a new option called Smart USD Bundles. This option has Voice, SMS, Data and COMBO bundle choices. The bundles are quite reasonably priced. For example, the 10GB under Smart USD Bundles costs USD$10 but under the normal Private Wi-Fi option 8GB cost RTGS $4 320. With an average exchange rate of RTGS$220 to USD$1 the 10GB, Smart USD Bundle costs RTGS$2 200 and one would need to change USD$20 to buy the ordinary 8GB Private Wi-Fi bundle.
Many people on social media platforms are asking Econet Wireless how they can purchase the Smart USD Bundles since most people use RTGS in their Ecocash accounts. Econet has not yet officially let people know how they can purchase the new bundles in the form of ads or posts. An Econet customer services employee responded to an enquiry on Twitter by saying;
“Hi @rastawepabuse, you need to visit any Econet shop to make the purchase or you can use your FCA wallet if you have funds in your account. To purchase the bundles kindly dial *143# and select Smart USD bundles, and choose the bundle package you want and confirm. ^AIH”
So it looks like one needs to make a deposit into their Ecocash FCA account or buy USD airtime at Econet shops to purchase the bundles. These bundles are not necessarily cheap but they are better priced.
Full list of prices under the Smart USD Bundles *143* option
- Voice
Bundle of Joy 30 mins USD $0.5
Bundle of Joy 60 mins USD $1
Bundle of Joy 320 mins USD $5
- Data
Whatsapp Weekly 300MB USD $1
Whatsapp Monthly 900MB USD $3
Whatsapp Monthly 1650MB USD$5
Private WIFI 10GB USD $10
- S.M.S
Bi-Weekly Bundle 225 SMS (no price)
Monthly Bundle 550 SMS (no price)
- COMBO
FCA USD Recharge USD $1