With other networks in Nigeria shutting down BlackBerry Internet Service, Airtel is wooing die-hard BlackBerry users in the country. It was Etisalat Nigeria that first announced discontinuation of BlackBerry Internet Service in November 2016. Next up was Glo BIS same month. This was recently followed by a similar announcement by MTN Nigeria.
Etisalat, Glo and MTN have advised BIS subscribers to switch to other smartphones. But Airtel is having none of that. The red network is on the air waves and elsewhere telling die-hard BlackBerry users that they are welcome on their network to come enjoy the BlackBerry Complete plan. The plan offers 3 GB of internet monthly for N1,000 for BlackBerry users.
The Last Ark
Airtel is the refuge of the last BlackBerry smartphone users. It sounds like a good plan and Airtel should be able to squeeze out some more revenue from its Blackberry internet Service infrastructure for a little while – maybe for another year. But it is just a matter of time. Eventually, even Airtel too will have to shut down their BlackBerry service.
Major smartphone retailers are no longer stocking up on older BlackBerry smartphones. The fairly used market is perhaps what keeps those phones in circulation till now. Eventually, the older BlackBerry phones will disappear and BIS will go away. But for now, all die-hard BlackBerry users in Nigeria have a hero – Airtel.
If you are one of them and have been wondering what to do now that Etislat, Glo and MTN have discontinued BIS, feel free to switch over to the red side. Connect, chat, stay up to date with Airtel’s BlackBerry Complete plan at N1000 with 3 GB data valid for 30 days. It sounds like a good deal.