Telkom Subsidizes Amazon Services for Customers: A Year-Long Promotional Offer

South African telecommunications provider, Telkom, is subsidizing the cost of Amazon service subscriptions, like Prime Video and Prime Video Mobile Edition, for its customers as part of a 12-month promotional offer. This offer spans from March 28, 2024, to March 27, 2025 and is applicable only to Telkom customers who are on one of the specified subscription plans.

The duration of the promotional offer received depends on the customer’s specific plan. However, customers should be aware that their subscriptions will automatically renew and charges will apply beyond the promotional period if they do not cancel.

Amazon Prime Video ventured into the African market in 2016, and in 2020, launched its first original African series, “Queen Sono”. Since then, its influence has continued to grow. As of now, it ranks among the top three online video streaming platforms in Africa, second to Showmax, which managed to overtake Netflix. The Prime Video Mobile Edition was launched in South Africa in 2022.

In order to take advantage of the Telkom offer, customers must initially sign up for an Amazon service via Telkom. Upon completion of the sign-up process, they will receive an activation link redirecting them to the Amazon website to finalize their subscription.

For eligible customers who subscribe to Amazon under this scheme, Telkom will shoulder the subscription fees for a duration of either three, six, or twelve months, contingent upon their individual Telkom plan.

Following the expiration of the offer in March 2025, customers who decide to continue their Amazon Prime Video or Prime Video Mobile Edition subscription will have to foot the standard Amazon subscription charges – R79 ($4) per month for Prime Video and R29 ($1.53) per month for Prime Video Mobile Edition.

Telkom clarified that these promotions, including Amazon services, cannot be redeemed, transferred, or refunded for cash or exchanged.

This special promotion for customers comes after Telkom recently “strengthened” its financial position. Telkom sold its Swiftnet masts and towers business to Actis, a UK-based firm, and Royal Bafokeng Holdings for R6.75 billion ($355.4 million). According to the telecom company, this sell-off was an effort to “reduce debt and enhance liquidity”.