A Nairobi-based lawyer has filed a case against mobile service providers, Safaricom, Airtel, and Telkom Kenya over the high cost and expiry of unused internet data bundles.
Adrian Kamotho, who is also an ICT practitioner, filed the complaint before the Communications and Multimedia Appeals Tribunal, accusing the three companies of illegally and irregularly depriving consumers of their unused data bundles.
Kamotho claims that the telecommunications companies have failed to provide an option to internet users to roll over unused data, thereby illegally depriving them of their hard-earned property.
“The complainant is immensely aggrieved over the high cost of data and profoundly frustrated by the arbitrary expiry of hard-earned data bundles…Expiring data bundles have become a thorn in the flesh of Kenyan mobile users,” he says.
“Despite charging an arm and a leg for data, the Respondents have been depriving off consumers, the right to quiet enjoyment of legitimately acquired data bundles,” Kamotho adds in his complaint.
He also accuses the telcos of discriminating against their customers by charging them “out of bundle” rates that are different from normal bundle rates.
Kamotho wants internet users to be allowed to keep the data bundles that they have purchased for as long as they remain active on the network.
“Data should not have an expiry date until used up‚ as long as the SIM card is active and the consumer keeps recharging,” says Kamotho.
He furthers asks the tribunal to order the telcos to furnish him with their current data tariffs, or prominently display them on their websites.
He avers that the data expiry model is unfair to the poor majority who can only afford low-amount bundles that are designed to expire sooner than big bundles, which only the rich can afford.
Amen.
Amen.