07 March 2005, Celtel launches open voucher mobile top-up facility

Celtel Kenya Limited has today launched the open voucher top up facility. Building upon the low denomination Chap.Chap mobile top up introduced by the company recently, the open voucher facility will grant subscribers the discretion of topping up their accounts with air time value for any amount from Kshs 50.00 to an upper limit of Kshs 10,000.00.

Speaking at a media briefing today, Celtel Chief Executive Officer Gerhard May said that the introduction of open voucher mobile top up marked a new phase in mobile telephony in Kenya. “We are delighted to share with our customers this new facility that gives them the freedom to exercise flexibility in how they top up their accounts”.

“By embracing virtual transactions in the distribution of air time, we are also stepping into the global arena as a business entity committed to delivering a wide range of valuable products and services to our growing subscriber base”, he said.

Open voucher mobile top up will operate alongside the conventional physical voucher (scratch card) system, available in set denominations of Kshs 300, Kshs 600, Kshs 1,200 and Kshs 3,000.

“In introducing open voucher top up, we will be building upon the runway success of the recent launch of low denomination talk time and mobile top up, as well as enhancing accessibility to seamless and efficient transaction avenues for distributors and dealers, while bringing air time top-up services to our subscribers’ doorsteps”, said Mr May.

Electronic top up options have in recent months risen in profile, a factor attributed to cost effectiveness from a business operations perspective, reduction in fraud and increased flexibility within sales and distribution channels. In certain markets, and in line with e-commerce trends fast gaining ground in developed countries, this mode of top up far exceeds the traditional scratch card system.

Following its launch by Celtel in Kenya two months ago, more than 20,000 people countrywide have signed up as mobile top up dealers, and the number is expected to grow further, in line with anticipated demand in meeting subscribers’ demand for talk time.