That’s not AYOBA!

April 1, 2010
Fact: #

MTN’s South African subscriber base was 16.1 million at the end of 2009. MTN, an official World Cup sponsor, has bought exclusive rights to network coverage within a 800 metre radius around each stadium during the World Cup. Subscribers to other cell phone networks will not be able to make or receive calls within this exclusion zone. (MTN Group Press Release March 2010, TUWC News)

This week’s theme: FIFA and consumers

PS: This was our April Fools joke. As you can see from the comments on this post, not everyone found it funny, though it was largely well received.

22 responses to “That’s not AYOBA!”

Abraham Cunio

14 years Ago
nice try.
but a good one. congrat. i will use it on my wife.
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Dominique

14 years Ago
This is just RIDICULOUS, how can the other cell phone providers let this happen??
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Dominique

14 years Ago
Okay so you got me… and my family!!
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Lisa

14 years Ago
Nice one… well done. I almost believed it. Happy April Fools!
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Retief

14 years Ago
I thought this web site was about FACT-a-day? !!!
Good one for this date …
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Candice

14 years Ago
If this is an April fools joke than I am completely disgusted with Eighty 20. Are you not supposed to be a reputable, trustworthy and professional organisation? If you are messing around with us and sending us false information then please advise us ASAP before any serious damage is caused! I subscribe to this site for FACTS not pathetic attempts at humour.
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Candice

14 years Ago
If this is an April fools joke then I am completely disgusted with Eighty20. Are you not supposed to be a respectable, trustworthy and professional organisation? If you are sending us false information then please advise ASAP before any damage is done. I subscribe to this site for FACTS, not pathetic attempts at humour. And you asked me to speak my mind so please don’t delete this comment again.
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Natan

14 years Ago
You caught me you bliksem.
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Adi

14 years Ago
I subscribe to MTN and feel this type of campaign is in bad taste. It’s in the spirit of good will that South Africans love to call, sms and mms their family and friends from any game whether it be soccer of rugby; allowing their loved ones to share in the moment when a goal or try is scored. It’s disgusting when corporates hijack a situation. So what now, all non MTN subscribers are supposed to go out and buy an MTN contract just so that they can be in communication in the ear-marked areas???. What about the safety issue if a small child is lost or something and the only way a family can keep tabs on them for just such an emergency is to be in contact by cellphone. If this is true and not an April fool’s joke, I’m shocked that their senior executives would agree to such a campaign. It’s seriously not AYOBA and makes me reconsider my affiliation to such a greedy company. Coming up to my upgrade do I go with the flow and not care or make a stand against such tactics. Either way, it’s a campaign of short sighted-greedy shmocks.
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Sally

14 years Ago
HAPPY APRIL FOOLS DAY, EIGHTY20 !!! Great “April Fools Fact” to kick off the weekend !
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rita

14 years Ago
brilliant. i was so outraged. pity those serious folk in your audience can’t see the humour of being duped – not very ayoba guys, tsk, tsk
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Thomas

14 years Ago
You had me for a moment. Damn I should put a warning on my Outlook calender for 1 April! Nice one… some people take themselves a bit too seriously on this forum. Helloooo it’s 1 April! Every year newspapers, radio, feisty colleagues etc. try to pull the wool over. If you can’t take it, stay in bed and don’t turn on the TV!
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Florian

14 years Ago
Who in the world does the FIFA think they are? And who allows MTN to do this? Where are we living? If it is this easy for corporates to impose rules that only benefits them while betraying the majority of citizens of the very basic right to make a phone call from their cell phone, what is next? MTN getting the exclusive right to cover Cape Town?
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Terry Roe

14 years Ago
Thank the Lord for humor, happiness and laughter.
Thank the Lord for April 1st. My son always said, “There is no fool like an old fool.”
Phew! You almost had me going there. If MTN could only know what I had in mind for them!?!?
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Sherry

14 years Ago
I hope MTN is aware of your joke?
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1. Ryan
  
  14 years Ago
  We are – passed it onto our PR team for a chuckle too 😉
  
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2. Sally
  
  14 years Ago
  MTN is so much more “Ayoba” in my eyes because they have a sense of humour…it’s for one day, people…just ONE DAY of lightening up…it won’t kill you anyone. Go MTN !
  
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zuko

14 years Ago
I bet FIFA thought out doing this. I wouldn’t put it past them.
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Judy

14 years Ago
Got your back, Zuko, those are some pretty corrupt b*&^*&ds!!
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abraham cunio

14 years Ago
i used your idea on my wife and it worked.
your dad Charles also fell for it!
ask him.
abraham cunio
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Sepp Blatter

14 years Ago
Vee are votching yoo, eightytventy! Sink carefully before yoo make fun ov FIFA.
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14 years Ago
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