Department of Communications and Digital Technologies to launch study on why data costs are so high in South Africa

[Luis]

Tender for study on mobile data prices in South Africa published

The Department of Communications and Digital Technologies will launch an in-depth study to identify the causes of the high cost of data, voice and devices needed to communicate in South Africa.

The study's outcome will be a set of strategic recommendations and actions to reduce costs and make digital communications more accessible in the country.

 

[saor]

This is according to a new tender published by the department, which has a closing date of 24 August 2026. It seeks service providers to conduct the 6-month study.

The classic technique of siphoning money from taxpayer to cadre for a "study".

 

[Jam Sandwich]

Great news indeed for a sunny and warm Sunday morning.
Viva my comrades.
Viva.

 

[supersunbird]

Device costs are high? One gets R600 smartphones out there.

Data costs are high? Some are indeed high, especially prepaid and some people have some weird prepaid data buying habits sometimes, that I am sure increase their total spend. Luckily I have have cheap contract data.

Voice costs are a bit high yes, no more 79c per minute or such available it seems, but WA calling is almost free if on data, free if on wifi.

 

[Unreal]

NotebookLM is your friend

 

[oros]

Whatever the networks will fight tooth and nail since the government has been struggling to get this right for a long time and they can't!! Icasa can't even make their own bed.... And now a in depth study..... Seriously

 

[RonSwanson]

 

[EmmanuelGoldstein]

Whatever the networks will fight tooth and nail since the government has been struggling to get this right for a long time and they can't!! Icasa can't even make their own bed.... And now a in depth study..... Seriously

See reply above:
The classic technique of siphoning money from taxpayer to cadre for a "study".

 

[Brian_G]

Election year

 

[Jet-Fighter7700]

Election year

wait till they start kissing babies

 

[Cius]

The Cost of 1GB Mobile Data Worldwide

This graphic shows the average price of 1GB of mobile data (in USD) as of January 2024 across 52 countries.

www.visualcapitalist.com

A good visual on where we sit. We are a lot cheaper than the USA, but a lot of comparable countries are so much cheaper than us. Israel is an outlier due to country size. India though I feel should be comparable to us and their costs are over 90 cheaper than ours.

 

[DreamKing]

why "study"?

not because of the anc?