Unlimited SMS plans have been a thing in western europe for the past 15 years, at least. People switched to whatsapp because you can send pictures, not only text.
It clearly shows that people in Europe, South America and Africa are huge users of WhatsApp and only 18% use it in the US.
Sure it was exciting at first when the first 3G colour display phones with cameras were a thing, but the cost and size limits were prohibitive when proper smartphones came on the scene.
I'm amazed it's still a thing in some port of the world.
TelCos just prefer to use the Internet. And I agree.