Telecoms offer hidden in-store 5G deals amid tight competition – YLE News
Consumers in Finland need to do quite a bit of research and legwork to find the best wireless deals.
Finding the most affordable and suitable wireless subscription can be tricky in Finland.
The telecom firms’ online offers — which are very similar to each other — are not usually the best ones available.
It turns out that the most affordable deals are almost always found in person, at the firms’ brick-and-mortar stores.
For example, the online prices for similar 5G subscriptions at Finland’s three biggest carriers — DNA, Elisa and Telia — range from about 32-34 euros per month, with Telia at the lowest end.
However, customers can get discounts in the operators’ stores. As of 26 June, monthly 5G subscriptions cost: €29.99 at DNA, €30.99 at Elisa and €27.99 at Telia — when they were bought in person.
The firms’ wireless plans are also sold at electronics stores like Gigantti, Power and Verkokkauppa.com.
For example, Gigantti offers 5G subscriptions from any of the three carriers for the same 30 euros per month. The only difference is the value of the gift cards involved — see more about this below.
According to Gigantti’s sales chief, Jyri Helistö, operators dictate the prices that the chain offers.
The various deals offered by electronics shops can make it more confusing for consumers to understand where to find the best deal.
Gift cards and 5G upselling
Telecoms often offer gift cards to customers who sign up for wireless subscriptions. This is due to competition, according to DNA’s mobile business chief, Cedric Kamtsan.
“It’s a competitive market. Prices change according to the situation and time of year,” he said, adding that gift card offers and discounts play a major role in the companies getting new customers.
On 26 June, DNA and Elisa offered gift cards for their own shops (€75 and €70 respectively), while Telia offered 30-euro Lidl supermarket gift cards to new subscribers.
The various subscriptions offered on the wireless companies’ websites are also more limited than ones available in their brick-and-mortar stores.
The three big operators have aimed to hide (slightly slower but cheaper) 4G subscription offers from their online stores, in an apparent effort to sell 5G packages, despite the limited 5G network coverage in Finland.
In reality, speedy 4G subscriptions are still available, but consumers should know they simply need to ask for them.
Users with an Yle ID can leave comments on our news stories. You can create your Yle ID via this link. Our guidelines on commenting and moderation are explained here.
This post was originally published on the 3rd party mentioned in the title ofthis site
