Safaricom, Kenya’s leading telecoms operator, has introduced a new service called “Lipa na Data,” allowing customers to pay for goods and services using their internet data balance.
This move is part of Safaricom’s ongoing efforts to expand its customer base in the East African nation. Both postpaid and prepaid customers with a minimum of 5GB of data are eligible for this feature, with prepaid subscribers being able to utilize No Expiry data bundles.
To make payments using their data balance, subscribers can use either Paybill or till numbers by dialing the shortcode *544*34#.
Those who are ineligible for the service will receive an error message, while qualifying customers will be presented with a menu of options including Buy Goods, Pay Bill, Bundle Calculator, and View Bundle Balance.
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The Bundle Calculator tool displays the cost in Kenyan Shillings along with the corresponding data bundle equivalent. For instance, a bill worth Sh500 will consume approximately 7.7GB of data, while a charge of Sh2,000 will require 30GB.
Users can then choose to accept or decline the payment request, and the View Bundle Balance option allows them to check if they have sufficient data for the transaction.
Lipa na Data is one of several marketing strategies implemented by Safaricom to maintain its dominance in the market, alongside its mobile money service, M-Pesa.
Other innovative payment methods offered by the telecom operator include Fuliza, which provides qualified users with overdrafts to pay for goods and services, and Lipa na Bonga, allowing customers to use loyalty points to settle cash bills.