Safaricom PLC has responded to a common concern among its subscribers about why 1GB data bundles often run out faster than expected. The telco used a series of social media posts to shed light on factors contributing to rapid data consumption.
Background App Activity Draining Data
According to Safaricom, apps running in the background—refreshing feeds, syncing, or downloading updates—are major culprits in silently using up mobile data without users’ active involvement. This explains why some customers find their data depleted despite minimal phone use.
Practical Steps to Manage Data Usage
- Restrict Background Data: Android users can go to Settings > Apps, select an app, and disable background data usage. iPhone users can navigate to Settings > General > Background App Refresh to turn off this feature for individual apps or entirely.
- Set App Updates to Wi-Fi Only: Automatic updates running over mobile data can consume large amounts of data. Users are advised to configure updates to happen only when connected to Wi-Fi.
Bundle Options and Personalised Offers
Safaricom also addressed questions about available data bundles. For instance, a KSh 20 bundle offering 1GB valid for one hour is available between 11pm and 4am the next day. Customers can dial *544# to view current offers.
The company noted that bundle offers are personalised and dynamic, changing daily based on individual usage patterns. This means customers might see different promotions each day.
Regarding specific promotional bundles like the 5GB for KSh 50 available during late-night hours, Safaricom explained these Tunukiwa offers rotate periodically and are not manually adjustable per customer.
Promotion of Pata More Value Proposition
Alongside data management advice, Safaricom highlighted its Pata More initiative, which provides extra benefits linked to products and services that subscribers already use, enhancing customer value.
