Orange to use subscribers in airtime sales, distribution

By Fredrick Obura

A plan to reduce the number of airtime distributors within the orange-Kenya network is in top gear.

 The Company has recruited Pillar Technologies, a Nairobi based IT company to pilot a project that will see Orange subscribers roped in the sale of airtime at an attractive commission.

In the new development, Orange subscribers will only need Sh250 to become distributors and earn commission of up to 0.5 per cent from the purchase of Sh500 worth airtime per month.  

The ongoing project if it picks up, will drastically reduce the number of distributors within the Orange network currently pocketing millions in their monthly airtime sales. “This is a project mainly to distribute wealth in the country, there is no need for few people to pocket huge profits while many are suffering across the country,” said Pillar Technologies Chief Executive Officer Mr Peter Masawa.

“What we have done is to create a platform where one can make money from airtime purchased and additional cash from sales made through referrals,” he said.

Use of Orange money

The new model encourages use of Orange money in the purchase of airtime, where one has to open up Orange Money account and convince a number of people to buy airtime virtually through the Orange Money platform.

Under the new model, the more number of people one convinces to buy airtime virtually, the more commission one gets.

“To become a distributor, one purchases a card at Sh250, the card has a serial number which Orange uses to enlist one in its distribution channel.

 Upon filling details, a password is generated which help in the online monitoring of commission earned at www.pillartechafrica.com. Every time you introduce one to the network and he makes a monthly purchase of Sh500 or more via orange money, a commission will be credited to your account and it will be recurrent provided transaction continues,” he says.

Seen as a way of reducing many airtime distributors, leading telecommunication companies are turning to their money transfer divisions to cut cost on commissions paid to their distributors.

During the Jamhuri Day, Safaricom launched a 50 per cent commission on airtime purchased virtually; this was one of such promotions initiated within this year.  In May, for every M-Pesa top up made up to a cumulative maximum of Sh1000 daily, customers enjoyed up to 10 per cent bonus airtime.