Over 13 million Kenyans using Opera Mini have been hit after the firm stopped its free data campaign which allowed consumers to enjoy free data bundles daily to access the internet.
The Norwegian web innovator said the decision followed a regulatory policy by local authorities aimed at cracking down the advertisements displayed on speed dials, commonly known as bookmarks, within browsers.
For the last four years, Opera has been giving Kenyan users 50 megabytes (MB) of free data every day.
“Unfortunately, for now, we have had to stop our much-loved Free Data Campaigns in Kenya for our 13.5 million local Opera users,” the firm said in a statement.
“We had to pause investment and free internet access in Kenya, but we are hoping for a solution so that we can once again provide free data to you, our valued customers in Kenya.”
The firm, which operates the Opera Mini Browser, has been affected by local authorities’ decision, including the Betting Control and Licensing Board (BCLB), to stop advertising on speed dial internet feature of the firm browser without authorization.
Also Read: WhatsApp Launches New Feature for Text Formatting: How to Use it
Speed dial is a feature found in web browsers and other software applications that allow users to quickly access their favorite or frequently visited websites or services.
It typically involves assigning specific websites or webpages to numbered slots or icons, which can then be accessed with a single click or keystroke combination.
The Growth of Opera in Kenya
In 2023 Opera provided more than four million gigabytes (GB) of data for free via the campaign, which was equivalent to about Ksh 1.6 million.
Furthermore, in October last year, the firm announced that it would invest up to Ksh.14 billion in the African market to boost the data-saving capacity of its browser, out of which Ksh. 2 billion would be injected in the Kenyan market.
Also Read: 10 Job Sites Kenyans Can Use to Make Money Online
Opera prides itself in offering customer- driven data solutions to contribute towards bridging the digital divide and offering seamless browsing experiences to all the users including those who browse using feature phones.
However, the web innovator still offers a unique feature set and data-saving functionality, allowing one to save up to 90% of their data while browsing through Opera Mini.
“We appreciate your understanding and would like to thank you for your patience as we work towards reaching a positive outcome,” it added.
Do you want to be part of an updated community without the interruptions of unwanted messages? Click the link below and join our WhatsApp Channel!
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaB3k54HltYFiQ1f2i2C
Discussion about this post