Apps such as WhatsApp are gaining popularity because while many telcos charge for individual texts, the app-based messages are sent via the telcos’ data plans. PHOTO | FILE
Internet-based mobile messaging services like WhatsApp have eaten into the number of short messages (SMS) sent between January and March, the latest Communications Authority of Kenya data shows.
The messages sent locally during the quarter dropped by 19.7 per cent to 6.5 billion from 8.1 billion messages sent during the previous quarter.
On-net SMS decreased from 7.6 billion posted during the first three months of last year to 6.0 billion messages during the corresponding period this year.
Such apps are gaining popularity because while many telcos charge for individual texts, the app-based messages are sent via the telcos’ data plans.
“The significant drop of SMS traffic could be attributed to the popular use of Over The-Top (OTT) services like WhatsApp and Hangouts,” read part of the CA sector report.
On average, each subscriber sent 57 messages per month.
The number of SMS sent from Safaricom network decreased to 5.8 billion from 7.3 billion messages sent during the previous quarter.
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