Vodafone offers extra 2GB data to customers after #Vodafail network outage

Vodafone is pulling a Telstra by offering bonus data. As its way of saying sorry to customers affected by the recent network outage, the Australian telco is handing out 2GB bonus data to postpaid and prepaid customers.

Customers experienced service disruption on Sunday after the Vodafone network went down around 6:30 p.m. AEST. The outage lasted for hours, with some users only experiencing fully restored service the next morning. Incensed customers took to social media with the hashtag #Vodafail to blast the telco’s service, saying they were unable to make calls or texts or access data.

On Monday, Vodafone acknowledged that the service disruption, which it attributed to a router malfunction, has severely inconvenienced some of its customers. It announced that it would give customers additional 2GB of data as the company’s way of saying sorry and as a thank-you to all loyal customers as well.

“While not all customers experienced service disruption, all postpaid customers and prepaid customers who top-up within a month will receive an additional 2GB of data,” Vodafone said in a statement. “2GB is more than 50 percent of the average monthly data use for Vodafone customers and this bonus offer will allow all customers to stream, surf and download more of what they love, on us.”

The statement continued, “We apologise sincerely for this disruption and we hope the 2GB of bonus data will allow customers to enjoy more of the Vodafone network.”

For postpaid customers, they will receive the additional 2GB data during their October or November billing cycle. It will be valid for the entire billing month. Prepaid customers will receive the one-off 2GB extra when they recharge. Vodafone advises prepaid users to recharge after the date that the telco will announce in October. The free data is valid within a month of that date.

The additional free data is reminiscent of Telstra’s move earlier this year. Unlike Vodafone, though, Telstra offered unlimited free data for one day on April 3 as recompense for its repeated network outages.

Read: Telstra offers free data day on April 3; CEO Andrew Penn says sorry for outage in a big way