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1. Pay-As-You-Go Internet access model
Introduction
The 'Pay As You Go' or 'Prepaid' service Model is a widely used service model for access to a mobile phone network by purchasing credit in advance from a mobile network operator. Users can use the network until they run out of credit. It is an alternative for the 'postpaid' service model, in which the user has a long-term contract with a mobile network operator usually paying for the services at a monthly basis.
Advantage of the prepaid model is that the user can buy credit when he needs it or when he has the money to buy credit. The disadvantage is that a user usally pays more for calls and text messages (SMS)and the use of other networks than with a postpaid arrangment.
Context
The Pay As You Go service model is now also being used in Internet access services by Internet Service providers (ISPs). The ISPs are now offering prepaid cards and vouchers with different credit amounts for access of the Internet (3G and VSAT broadband). Users are charged per MB downloads or block of minutes/hours.
Monthly charges of broadband Internet contracts are still quite high for potential clients in rural areas. As these clients may not be able to pay the monthly charges or are not using the service that often, it could be an interesting service model for rural telecentres.
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Internet access with this 'Pay as You Go' service model offered by the (International) Internet Service provider HMU Technologies Ltd. http://www.hook-me-up.biz/Tariffs.html is used by Salaga Community Information Centre in northern Ghana (read more here).
HMU Technologies Ltd offers the same services also in other countries in Africa.
Question
Are there telecentres in other African countries that are already using this Pay-As-You-Go' model for Internet access?
Discussion