The truth about mobile data prices in South Africa

[Jamie McKane]

The truth about mobile data prices in South Africa

Over the last week, mobile data prices in South Africa took centre stage again, with Communications Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams’s being tasked with reducing data prices by 50%.

Twitter users also complained about high prepaid costs through the hashtag #NoRechargingForMTN, and it was further blamed for stifling SME growth.

 

[Deandbn]

Truth is that the profit taking is incredible on SA.. You can be sure that we are being ripped off big time as always.

 

[elf_lord_ZC5]

We are starting to see big data bundles, at almost fair prices, but the smaller the bundles become tbe bigger one you get torn, by our esteemed Service Providers.

The discrepancy, between both ends is exorbitant in the extreme. Abusively so in my opinion, but hell, what do I know.

 

[Gazg]

Yaaaaawn........the great spectrum debate again. So let's see when everyone gets the additional spectrum, what happens to the prices. Probably be some other excuse. #watchthisspace

 

[SilverCode]

I had to scroll back to the top of the article to check if it was Sponsored content

 

[Raphael123]

Yaaaaawn........the great spectrum debate again. So let's see when everyone gets the additional spectrum, what happens to the prices. Probably be some other excuse. #watchthisspace

Agreed an an inept minister/govt in the backpocket of the Telecoms is a no go.

 

[wizardofid]

I had to scroll back to the top of the article to check if it was Sponsored content

It wasn't but feels like it, where are mtn stats ?. Vodacom insisted they have reduced mobile data prices, but only applies to selected bundles or new bundles added, which doesn't exactly paint a fair picture.For example the 1 gig debate, which for more then a couple years stayed exactly the same, it was only later that bigger data bundles were added, giving the illusion prices have changed, but it really didn't they added more bundles , compared to what there was a couple of years ago.

The article suggests consumers are idiots, for suggesting prices haven't changed for example 1 gig and 500mb bundles which was available long before other bundles arrived on the scene to attempt to muddy the water as prices having improved.5gig, 10gig ect wasn't available for quite some time.Consumer being idiots, quite the insult !!!!!

 

[rick9k]

"It is easy to cherry-pick specific data products from a South African mobile provider and then compare it to more affordable data products from an international operator." .. yet the article is literally cherry picked data

 

[elf_lord_ZC5]

"It is easy to cherry-pick specific data products from a South African mobile provider and then compare it to more affordable data products from an international operator." .. yet the article is literally cherry picked data

So what is new?

 

[Mekon]

My daughter recently took out a MTN contract that has about 20 gigs a month. What an utterly deceitful load of bullshyt. only about 2 gb that can be used for actual internet browsing. Some is allocated for Facebook only, some for some crapola MTN music service, some for streaming content on MTN's streaming service. They are all a bunch of schmucks.

 

[elf_lord_ZC5]

My daughter recently took out a MTN contract that has about 20 gigs a month. What an utterly deceitful load of bullshyt. only about 2 gb that can be used for actual internet browsing. Some is allocated for Facebook only, some for some crapola MTN music service, some for streaming content on MTN's streaming service. They are all a bunch of schmucks.

Par for the course

 

[Kaysway]

You forgot to mention *Sponsored Article.

 

[Creag]

Nobody wants to blink first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth ... or last. Prices ain't going to change any 'til the despicable minister lays down the law, it gets challenged in High Court, appealed in SCA, appealed in the CC, and appealed in the Hague.

OK. That's extreme. But this is what it always feels like in good ol' Saffer country.

 

[Thor]

Now please report the average margins year on year of Vodacom & MTN in South Africa.

 

[j4ck455]

So the conclusion is that Vodacom is damned expensive for prepaid data (and everything else) in SA, MTN is mentioned but there's no comparison of Vodacom's tariffs to any of the other networks.

I have no doubt that Vodacom is still the most expensive for prepaid data, it would just be nice to see what the other networks charge. I would not even bother with any contract tariffs, concentrate on prepaid.

 

[Aghori]

Now please report the average margins year on year of Vodacom & MTN in South Africa.

Vodacom and MTN profit margins – Here is the truth

The Competition Commission said South Africa’s profit margins are much higher than international standards – MyBroadband investigated this claim.

mybroadband.co.za

 

[Antelope]

Which prices of telkom are actually as cheap as they were?

Would be nice if it could be pointed out

 

[Swa]

Why only look at Vodacon? I would also take their coverage with a bag of salt. No way there's 99.8% coverage here. It's easy to make false claims but then have "coverage" where the signal is so weak and choppy it's unusable.

 

[JacquesSteffen]

Come on MyBroadband. It has nothing to do with pricing of huge data bundles, but rather the one's that the poor can afford. Also, the mentioned ISP's are still making huge profits on existing "lower" prices. Then you have Vodacom who, together with the rest, was forced a while ago to implement a 30day carry-over of unused prepaid data. What did they do? Show us the fat middle finger!

 

[supersunbird]

What is seldom mentioned is that the best way to force a company to cut prices is to support their competitors – vote with your wallet.

If you do not like Vodacom or MTN’s prices, simply move to Rain, Telkom, or Cell C. You can even move to one of the many MVNOs with better prices.

If you are not willing to move, it is a feather in the cap of Vodacom and MTN for offering such an excellent service that you continue to support them when there are much cheaper products available.

Can argue with this, or are y'all communists now?