* PRICE * Awareness & Monitoring ZIMBABWE EXPERIENCE

Follow the MONEY !!! Policy, Law, Regulators, Operators ... Money is a concrete resource (enabler) and result (reward) A key plank of consumer protection is AFFORDABILITY Country comparisons are often simplistic, one tariff versus the other, without adjusting for specific economic realities.

Consumer is a Stockholder Understand the “reason for being” of the stakeholders Politician (Gvt, Regulator) – Votes Operator – profit Consumer – QoL Consumer is the owner of the ecosystem. The “reason for being” of the ecosystem is to serve the consumer.

Zimbabwe 1996 – 2000 : achieving access 2000 – 2009 : the land question hyperinflation 2009 – 2011 : GNU sensitivities, ITU model excuse for thumbsucking, sanctions environment, Duty Free devices 2012 – 2014 : Network Cost Analysis & Modelling 2014 – 2016 : Gliding path & “Operator Viability” 2017 : Data floor prices 2018 : Consumer Protection Bill >>> ACT

Zimbabwe From “3 minutes POT” to per second billing Consumer Price Index Whatsapp / Facebook bundles (Net Neutrality) Operator promotions (10c per SMS versus 50c for 130 per week) “expiring money” – recharge windows Regulation of pricing promotions vs Market Consumer mobility – number portability

Zimbabwe Informed consumers and an empowered “price monitoring” force From SIM for USD100 (2007) to SIM & Airtime bundles (2010) to SIM for 50c. [Windfall Tax?] Intra-SADC comparisons Cost based tariffs [include for services, mobile FS] Cost of obsolete versus cutting edge technology – monitor the trends [operator wrong turn is expensive] Understand efficiency: investment, operating, maintaining- no recovery for inefficiency

Ask the stupid questions Ask the stupid questions. who is chopping what portion of the consumer’s dollar ? Foreign technology supplier Local management of the operator Regulator ? Government ? [140m over 20yrs] Corrupt players at all levels ? Operator shareholders Why is this service or product FREE ? Where is the provider’s benefit ? What is the not so apparent cost to the consumer ?

No substitute for information and collaboration of consumers to achieve critical mass for strong voice in a global market. ASANTE SANA Reuben Gwatidzo +263 73 4222 422