For many Kenyans, an Equitel line is closely associated with banking rather than everyday communication.

The line is often used to access mobile banking services, transfer money, check account balances and carry out other financial transactions through Equity Bank.

Beyond its banking functionality, Equitel is also a fully fledged telecommunications service offering voice calls, SMS and mobile data.

The service, provided by Equity Bank, gives customers an alternative way to stay connected while managing their financial services through the same line.

One of the features available to Equitel customers is “Auto Top-up”, which combines airtime usage across voice, SMS and data rather than requiring customers to purchase separate bundles for each service.

Under the Auto Top-up offering, customers can make calls across networks at a listed rate of Sh4.61 per minute, send SMS messages at Sh1.16 per SMS, and use data at Sh4.61 per MB.

The service also provides free minutes when customers top up their Equitel lines. A minimum top-up of Sh20 attracts five free minutes, while a Sh50 top-up provides 10 free minutes. Top-ups of Sh100 and above come with 15 free minutes.

Data options

Equitel also offers a range of data bundles designed around different usage periods and budgets.

Available data categories include Data Plus, Jipimie Bundles, Ongea Bundles and Other Bundles, giving customers different options depending on their communication needs.

Daily Internet Bundles include options ranging from 7MB for Sh6 to 120MB for Sh44, with a validity period of one day. Weekly options include 5MB for Sh5, 15MB for Sh15, 20MB for Sh20, 50MB for Sh40, and 100MB for Sh80, all valid for seven days.

For customers seeking longer-term connectivity, monthly bundles include 250MB for Sh219, 800MB for Sh439, 2GB for Sh999, 5GB for Sh1,599, 8GB for Sh2,000, and 20GB for Sh7,999, with the monthly options carrying a 30-day validity period.

There are also longer-validity bundles for customers who prefer to purchase data for extended periods. These include packages ranging from 5MB to 20GB, with validity periods of between seven and 180 days depending on the bundle selected.

How to access Equitel airtime and data services

Customers can access Equitel products through the *544# menu or through the Equitel SIM Toolkit (STK) menu under My Phone or My Money, where they can select the option to buy airtime or bundles.

Equitel bundles can also be purchased using funds from an Equity Bank account through the STK platform or the Equity Mobile App. Customers have the option of making a one-time purchase or selecting an auto-renewal option for eligible bundles.