Ride-hailing company Uber is zero-rating its app for drivers and riders in Kenya, following a partnership with Kenya’s biggest telco, Safaricom.
The deal will allow Uber drivers and riders to receive free mobile data to facilitate easier downloads and usage.
Safaricom has zero-rated the Uber app and Uber Eats app for drivers, riders, and delivery partners, with the ride-hailing company covering the cost.The deal also enables merchants and consumers across Kenya on the Uber Eats platform to access free data when using the app.
Uber has reported that one of the obstacles to customers’ accessing mobility products on its different platforms is limited access to mobile data. This partnership will go a long way in addressing this barrier.
“As a global company that operates locally, it is important to us to understand local nuances of the market we live and operate in. Through this partnership with Safaricom, we can help bridge the gap in accessing data for many Kenyans, by which they will be able to access reliable and safe mobility,” said Imran Manji, Uber’s Head of East Africa.
Although internet penetration has expanded rapidly in Kenya, a digital divide exists in the country, especially in rural and peri-urban areas. Uber’s deal with Safaricom is expected to offer Kenyans free data and enhance access to reliable, safer, and affordable mobility options.
“This partnership is part of our goal to provide our customers with innovative solutions that allow them to access vital services even when they do not have data bundles or airtime through collaboration with organizations such as Uber to extend free access of their services to customers,” stated Safaricom’s CEO Peter Ndegwa.
To access the free data, drivers, riders, and customers must turn off VPN blockers on their phones. Also, riders and drivers are required to turn Airplane Mode on and off on their phones before accessing the free data.
Uber entered Kenya ten years ago. Since then, the raid-hailing company has expanded its product portfolio to transform how people, food, and things move through cities. Uber Comfort, Uber Boda, Uber Electric Boda, and Uber Reserve are some of the products launched earlier this year.
