Comparing CellC and MTN Top Up

[Bivesh]

I've prepared some numbers so that we can compare the voice costs on the current Cell C and MTN packages.
There's a few contracts:
The Cell C contracts include more smss and data. They also include data. I'm comparing voice minutes to keep it simple.

Cell C don't include a phone in the cost, whereas MTN's do - if you sign up for a 2 year contract.
So, in general, the Cell C contracts would offer a lower cost, and the difference can be used to fund a phone.

In all but the first comparison, anytime 50 vs. straight up 30, the mtn package had more included minutes than cell c's, so we had to calculate the cost of increasing the minutes to match mtn's. That value is reflected on the 6th column.

The last column is the monthly difference multiplied by 24. this reflects the value a cell c user may use to fund for their own phone. If you believe mtn's phone on offer exceeds the last column, you may consider taking their package. With MTN, the out of bundle minute costs exceed cell c's - so it's best for mtn customers to keep withing their included minutes.

[table="width: 500, class: grid, align: left"]
[tr]
[td]MTN Packages[/td]
[td]Monthly Subscription[/td]
[td]Inclusive SMSs[/td]
[td]Estimated Inclusive Minutes [/td]
[td]CellC Packages[/td]
[td]Total cost to equal MTN minutes[/td]
[td]difference per month over 2 years[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]MTN AnyTime 50 [/td]
[td]50[/td]
[td]25[/td]
[td]21[/td]
[td]Straight Up 30[/td]
[td]30[/td]
[td]480[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]MTN AnyTime 100[/td]
[td]100[/td]
[td]25[/td]
[td]43[/td]
[td]Straight Up 30[/td]
[td]43[/td]
[td]1357[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]MTN AnyTime 200[/td]
[td]200[/td]
[td]25[/td]
[td]86[/td]
[td]Straight Up 50[/td]
[td]87[/td]
[td]2713[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]MTN AnyTime 350[/td]
[td]350[/td]
[td]50[/td]
[td]179[/td]
[td]Straight Up 100[/td]
[td]179[/td]
[td]4092[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]MTN AnyTime 500[/td]
[td]500[/td]
[td]50[/td]
[td]256[/td]
[td]Straight Up 200[/td]
[td]256[/td]
[td]5846[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]MTN AnyTime 750[/td]
[td]750[/td]
[td]100[/td]
[td]468[/td]
[td]Straight Up 400[/td]
[td]469[/td]
[td]6750[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]MTN AnyTime 1200[/td]
[td]1200[/td]
[td]100[/td]
[td]750[/td]
[td]Straight Up 400[/td]
[td]750[/td]
[td]10800[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]MTN AnyTime 1500[/td]
[td]1500[/td]
[td]200[/td]
[td]1000[/td]
[td]Straight Up 800[/td]
[td]1000[/td]
[td]12000[/td]
[/tr]
[/table]

I hope this makes choosing between these packages easier.

 

[oronte]

It actually depends on the user - if you want a good new phone at the lowest price then the MTN deals will typically be much better since they're subsidised in the contract (hence the call rates are much higher). If minutes/data are a priority and you don't mind paying extra for your phone then the Cell C deal works much better.