MTN and Vodacom mobile data prices - 2010 vs 2020

[Jamie McKane]

MTN and Vodacom mobile data prices - 2010 vs 2020

Mobile data prices in South Africa have consistently declined over the past decade, improving Internet access as smartphone adoption continues to grow.

MTN and Vodacom's data prices previously ranked as among the most expensive in South Africa - however, it is important to note that these operators also deliver better network quality and coverage than their competitors.

 

[Gazg]

"Despite not having access to new spectrum, and continuing to invest in their networks, Vodacom and MTN have dropped their data prices over the past 10 years."

Only because they came under mounting pressure to do so, otherwise it would have been... up yours!

 

[Itsa Trap]

Yeah, I'm thinking the prices of today should have been the prices in 2010.

 

[Swa]

And what is that I see in the graph from 2015 till now? Oh wait there is no graph here.

It's a pity. I they hadn't stalled price decreases for the last half of the decade we could have now been heading for R10/GB and paying R2/GB for large bundles.

 

[Sarg3_ZN]

What's odd Vodacon in the UK can offer you Unlimited minutes, data and texts for only 15 GBP approx R350 (thats on a 24 month contract) or 37 GBP approx R850 (if you go month to month).

How much of spectrum does the UK have that they are able to offer these insane deals?

 

[ginggs]

How much of spectrum does the UK have that they are able to offer these insane deals?

It's not the spectrum. They have 66 million people living in an area smaller than the Western Cape and Eastern Cape combined.

 

[Swa]

It's not the spectrum. They have 66 million people living in an area smaller than the Western Cape and Eastern Cape combined.

Which means more people per tower and spectrum.

 

[konfab]

It's not the spectrum. They have 66 million people living in an area smaller than the Western Cape and Eastern Cape combined.

And the vast majority of those people are in the middle class or above, so they will have more clients as a percentage of the population.

And then there is the other stuff that is unique to the South African market. Cellphone towers probably don't get vandalised and have their batteries stolen as often as South Africa. And the government doesn't make them comply with laws demanding that their employees and shareholders have to be a certain skin colour. Everything adds up.

 

[ginggs]

Which means more people per tower and spectrum.

How so?

 

[Swa]

How so?

Most people live in the cities in apartments. That means higher densities than in SA overall. Somehow that translates for me as having more people on each tower and more people sharing the same spectrum.

 

[ginggs]

Most people live in the cities in apartments. That means higher densities than in SA overall. Somehow that translates for me as having more people on each tower and more people sharing the same spectrum.

Why do you think they wouldn't put up more towers?

 

[Swa]

Why do you think they wouldn't put up more towers?

That's what I'm saying, you have to put up more towers to cope. But there is also just so many you can put up and spectrum remains a limitation nonetheless.