An airtel line at 1bob per minute is probably worth less to a consumer than a safaricom line at 4bob per minute in terms of value to the customer. This idea of making linear valuations of phone companies products and prices then calling people "shareholders", "employees" and so on is misplaced. There are less than 1million people with special interest in Safaricom(shareholders, employees, agents,suppliers and SRP beneficiaries e.t.c) yet it maintains 17 million subscribers, why???? There is obviously more value. Market ARPU is down only a negligible 362/- currently from 376/- (please remember who has very low rates and is financing the drop)in 2008. Who is loosing here? Now this ARPU means an average user was spending about 30/- per day in 2008 at 7/- per minute and they are still spending about the same, say 1bob difference a day. Do you expect guys to go crazy over saving say 2/- per day (8am to 5pm) for an inferior service? What of someone who eats lunch at Serena 2,500/- only? I am certainly not very worried about profitability just like some CEO who doesn't care about profit.
Ras Kienyeji Man