To avoid charges, the user will have to stick to free mode where several services are available
Tigo Rwanda has today announced a new product that will allow customers to use social media free of charge.
‘Facebook Flex’, the product that is only available to Tigo Rwanda customers provides free access to Facebook either through the Facebook app on Android or via facebook.com on all data-capable devices on Tigo.
This follows a recent agreement signed between Tigo Rwanda and Facebook, which aims to increase digital access for over three million Tigo customers in Rwanda.
Facebook Flex enables Tigo customers to control their data usage when using Facebook through a button that switches access between Free and Paid modes.
Announcing Facebook Flex, Yaw Ankoma Agyapong, Tigo Rwanda Chief Commercial Officer said: “At Tigo we believe in Internet For All.”
He also said, “With the product, even more Rwandans will be able to enjoy Facebook because you don’t need to have a smartphone or balance to enjoy the service. So, no matter where you live, as long as you are a Tigo data customer you will be able to like, comment and post as much as you want on your Facebook account”.
Facebook Flex is able to provide every service that is available on a Facebook page even if the customer does not have airtime/data balance.
For example, to view photos or videos, one will need to switch to data mode (full Facebook) by clicking the “View Photos” button. However, the user will be charged for data (MBs) in this mode.
To avoid charges, the user will have to stick to free mode where several services are available, including Facebook Messenger, the chat option.
The following services however will always be charged; watching videos through Messenger and voice calls through Facebook Messenger.
In other words, in Facebook Flex, you can chat, like, comment, post, share, and upload photos for free but if you want to view photos, watch videos, read articles, or make voice calls in Messenger, you will be charged your standard data rate by Tigo.
If you try and click on a photo/video/link, you will be warned with a popup telling you that you are leaving free mode and will be charged at your standard rate.
Tigo has been operating in Africa since 1993, in Rwanda since 2009, and serves over 26 million customers in Africa.
