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Wataniya Launches Packages for Ethnic Communities

Wataniya Launches Packages for Ethnic Communities

Kuwaiti operator Wataniya Telecom has announced new offers to meet the needs of the country’s various communities— Kuwaiti, Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Egyptian, Filipino and Syrian. The prepaid packs offer discounted rates starting from KWD 0.010 (US $0.035) per minute, as well as free local and international SMS to members of their communities. They also come with a 25 percent discount on international calls to a selected home country, or, in the case of the Kuwaiti pack, a 25 percent discount on all local calls. Customers can subscribe to the offers for KWD 1 (US $3.53) per month or KWD 0.30 (US $1.06) per week, and the first subscription period is offered free.

Tarifica’s Take

Considering that nearly half the population of Kuwait are non-nationals—foreign workers who do not have citizenship—this offering makes a great deal of sense and is a good example of an MNO tailoring its packages to the specific local needs of its subscribers. Wataniya is aware that foreign workers tend to communicate mainly within their own populations rather than across populations or with Kuwaiti citizens. In addition, they retain very close ties to their home countries, so providing targeted international calling at affordable rates, on a prepaid basis, is a gesture likely to increase retention and attract new subscribers.