MTN Ghana has said it is working on a plan to start offering data packages based on time rather than capacity measured in bytes. Tigo Ghana is already offering three ‘unlimited’ time-based data packages, where customers pay specific amounts for packages measured in one day, one week or one month, which does not finish until the period is over. Other telcos, including MTN, only offer packages measured in megabytes and gigabytes, and even with their bundles that come with specific validity periods, some customers do complain that their credit sometimes get finished ahead of the validity period. The telcos have often explained that each bundle is for a specific consumption pattern, so if one buys a bundle for light browsing and uses it for downloading high capacity stuff such as pictures and videos, or do live streaming, the credit would finish ahead of the validity period. Tigo has moved out of that confusion by offering the three time-based packages, which allows customers to browse, download, do live streaming and anything on the net without credit running our ahead of the validity period. Vodafone recently hinted it would do same soon, and MTN has also dropped a similar hint to Adom News. Meanwhile, as part of its IFEST month, to drive awareness and education for Internet and data use, MTN is giving away 88 laptops over a period of 8 weeks. There are 11 laptops to be won every week, in line with the 11millionth subscriber milestone. Customers participate in a text and win game dubbed ‘tit-bits’ currently running on various radio stations. Participants are required to answer many simple questions correctly via a short code 1337 and the 8 weekly winners are selected from persons with the highest number of correct answers for the week. The company said the purpose is to drive awareness towards its data bundles accessible on *138#, adding, “we want so many people to enjoy the benefits of the internet and we believe that owning their own connecting devices will enhance the experience of using the internet hence MTN giving them this opportunity to own these laptops.” MTN said it is also embarking on massive data education and activations across the regions, adding that so far the IFEST month has significantly increased internet usage across country and the response has being very tremendous. The company recently said in its third quarter report that data continued to show good growth at MTN Ghana due to an increased focus on distribution and coverage. “Data will definitely continue to be the highest business growth area of our business and we surely will deliver innovative offers to make it more rewarding and exciting,” it said.