Aston Lukoye
- Netflix launched a free mobile plan in Kenya in September 2021
- The plan was so successful that Netflix expanded it to Vietnam in November 2021.
Netflix is a global streaming service with over 222 million subscribers worldwide. However, the company’s growth has been slower in some developing markets, such as Africa and Southeast Asia.
In an effort to reach more people in these regions, Netflix launched a free mobile plan in Kenya in September 2021. The plan was so successful that Netflix expanded it to Vietnam in November 2021.
There are a few reasons why Netflix chose to offer a free mobile plan in Kenya and Vietnam. First, both countries have a large population of young people who are active mobile users.
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According to a 2021 report by GSMA Intelligence, 87% of Kenyans and 83% of Vietnamese have a smartphone. This means that there is a large potential audience for Netflix in these countries.
Second, both Kenya and Vietnam have relatively low levels of internet penetration. According to the World Bank, only 40% of Kenyans and 66% of Vietnamese have access to the internet. This means that many people in these countries are still using their mobile phones for basic tasks, such as calling and texting.
A free mobile plan from Netflix could help to introduce these people to streaming video and encourage them to sign up for a paid plan in the future.
Finally, both Kenya and Vietnam are important markets for Netflix’s long-term growth. Kenya is the most populous country in East Africa, and Vietnam is the second most populous country in Southeast Asia. As these economies continue to grow, Netflix expects to see an increase in demand for its services in these countries.
The free mobile plan has been a success in both Kenya and Vietnam. In Kenya, the plan has been downloaded over 7 million times. In Vietnam, the plan has been downloaded over 3 million times.
Netflix has not released any data on how many of these users have subsequently signed up for a paid plan. However, the company has said that the free mobile plan is helping to drive growth in both countries.
It is possible that Netflix will offer free mobile plans in other developing markets in the future. However, the company has not made any announcements about its plans. For now, the free mobile plan is only available in Kenya and Vietnam.
