VIVA kickstarts operations with three months of free calls

VIVA, STC’s mobile subsidiary in Kuwait, commenced commercial operations on December 3, with subscribers enjoying free local calls for their first three months. Competitive pricing plans are also in place.

VIVA is the brand name of the Kuwait Telecom Company, Kuwait’s third mobile operator, and will compete with incumbent operators Zain and Wataniya.

Following the free call period for VIVA subscribers, post-paid subscribers will be able to take advantage of local calls at no cost if their call duration exceeds five minutes, while receiving international and landline calls will also be free of charge.

Saudi Arabia’s STC owns 26 per cent of the Kuwait operator, and calls made to STC numbers in Saudi Arabia will be charged at a local rate. Meanwhile subscribers of the prepaid ‘Value Service’ will have access to free on-network local calls for an unlimited period of time, and their choice of mobile phone number.

The Kuwaiti government holds 24 per cent of the Kuwait Telecom Company, with the remaining 50 per cent sold to citizens in an initial public offering held in August. The capital of the company is KWD50 million (US$182 million).

Competitors Zain Kuwait and Wataniya have a combined 2.5 million customers in a population of 3.4 million people, representing a mobile penetration rate of 73.5 per cent.