Will SA mobile networks block WhatsApp?

Viva said:
This is why I'm always going to be using prepaid. If a operator blocks any service or website on the internet, I'll be gone within a day.

Well done to Cell C!
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Month-to-month on CellC is also a win. All the advantages of prepaid, without the schlep of buying airtime and checking balances.
 
There has been no confirmation that any network is going to start charging for use of a specific OTT service. This is an article by a MyBB Staff Writer stirring up old news.
 
I will move from any network that blocks Whatsapp. We already pay an exorbitant fee for data. Let's just leave it at that.
 
Ockie said:
Admittedly SMS was a big cash cow for the operators. Considering the amount of characters you could use, it was expensive compared to what data costs these days. Now that party is coming to a end with WhatsApp and Telegram etc. It is going to affect their bottom line because, yes, data is taking off on the networks, but on the other side SMS's (which had high margin) is declining and doing it rather rapidly due to these services. But taking it to ICASA and threatening etc is most certainly not the way to go with keeping your reputation with your customers.
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Agreed. If they need sms revenue to cross-subsidise other services, they are being dishonest. If they want to charge more for data, then do that and compete fairly.
 
MaryJane said:
There has been no confirmation that any network is going to start charging for use of a specific OTT service. This is an article by a MyBB Staff Writer stirring up old news.
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No, MTN did make the allegations and then went completely quiet about it. Completely fair to grill them about it.
 
MTN’s call for Icasa to investigate WhatsApp, and suggestions that the messaging app is enjoying success in SA without investing in network infrastructure
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And what about youtube?


Has this article got something to do with network bandwidth issues or are they just being stupid?
 
MaryJane said:
There has been no confirmation that any network is going to start charging for use of a specific OTT service. This is an article by a MyBB Staff Writer stirring up old news.
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This.
Chances of this happening is 1 in a million.
Sensationalism.
 
Doesn't affect me, but I know a lot of people who use WhatsApp.

So what's next, a block on VOIP calls?
 
I dont see why everyone is harping on about this.
Its available now, nobody is complaining, why make it a mountain?
 
We'll just move over to Telegram, which is better anyway... :D
 
Rusty0 said:
We have Whatsapp for 5 years now. No issues.
Why all the noise now?
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They finally took notice that it's eating into their SMS revenue, and soon their voice revenue too.

The noise from consumers seems to be the issue of net neutrality. They have no right telling us how we should use our data...
 
Rusty0 said:
We have Whatsapp for 5 years now. No issues.
Why all the noise now?
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Because the head of MTN said some things, and Vodacom said some things.

We're amazed that they are trying to distinguish between different types of traffic on the internet.
 
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