First of all, let's clear up a major misconception: because these new options sit under the Data section (*143#), some people are buying them or getting excited because they think they are incredibly cheap data bundles. EcoCloud is not a special cheap data bundle. These packages are strictly for cloud storage, not for browsing the internet.
Econet already has an EcoCloud service that is mostly used for businesses, data centres, and hosting. What we are seeing on USSD feels like a consumer version of that. It appears to be a local alternative aimed at competing directly with services like Google Drive and iCloud. Instead of trusting cheap external hard drives, customers pay a small monthly fee for Econet to store their digital files, pictures, and videos.
Highly Competitive USSD Pricing
If you are actually looking for cloud storage, the leaked USSD menu reveals very aggressive pricing for the bundles:
- 25GB: $0.30
- 50GB: $0.65
- 100GB: $2.00
- Unlimited Storage: $2.80
- Data/Cloud Combo: $40.00 (Peak 25GB + Off-Peak 5GB + 30-Day EcoCloud)
The Babylon Cloud Partnership
The official EcoCloud app, which notes it is "Powered by Cassava" inside, is currently available for download. Additionally, Play Store listings indicate Econet allegedly partnered with Babylon Cloud, a company based in Rome, Italy, to develop the application.
The Problem: A Broken Login Experience
While buying the storage bundles works perfectly sending a confirmation SMS without problems actually using the service is another story.
Upon opening the EcoCloud app, users are greeted by a clean login screen asking for a Username and Password. The major flaw is that there is absolutely no "Create account" button and no "Register" option.
The confirmation SMS sent after purchasing the bundle does not contain any login credentials or instructions. Furthermore, attempting to use a phone number, guessing default passwords, or looking for an OTP flow all lead to dead ends.
