Cell C MegaData vs SupaCharge and SA’s prepaid minefield
Cell C recently launched MegaData, a new promotion for EasyChat subscribers that gives you free data valid for a limited period every time you recharge with R50 or more.
The promotion complements Cell C’s existing MegaBonus rewards system, which gives EasyChat subscribers double their recharge value in bonus airtime.
You get MegaBonus airtime every time you recharge with R5 or more, which is valid for a few days after the recharge.
In addition to EasyChat, Cell C offers two other prepaid tariff plans: 99c For Real, and 66C. Neither has access to the MegaBonus or MegaData recharge rewards, and instead have SupaCharge.
SupaCharge gives prepaid subscribers an amount of data, and on-network voice minutes and SMS messages, for every recharge above R5.
MegaData vs SupaCharge bonus data
The table below summarises how the free data rewards and validity periods of MegaData and SupaCharge compare.
It should be noted that the SupaCharge bonus on-network minutes and SMS allocations are equal to the amount of free data. In other words, if you get 50MB of free data you also get 50 free minutes and 50 SMS messages.
One exception is the R500 tier, which offers unlimited on-network calling for the duration of the validity period.
| Prepaid data promos | Cell C MegaData | Cell C SupaCharge | ||
| Recharge amount | Free data | Validity | Free data | Validity |
| R50 | 150MB | 3 days | 50MB | 5 days |
| R60 | 180MB | 3 days | 50MB | 5 days |
| R70 | 210MB | 3 days | 50MB | 5 days |
| R100 | 300MB | 3 days | 200MB | 5 days |
| R120 | 360MB | 3 days | 200MB | 5 days |
| R150 | 450MB | 5 days | 400MB | 15 days |
| R200 | 600MB | 5 days | 500MB | 15 days |
| R300 | 900MB | 5 days | 700MB | 30 days |
| R500 | 1.5GB | 5 days | 1,000MB | 30 days |
| R1,000 | 3GB | 5 days | N/A | |
| Variable/Flexi recharges of R50 and above will also receive MegaData benefits. MegaData is awarded according to the recharge amount. | ||||
| SupaCharge also includes free on-net minutes and SMS messages. | ||||
Prepaid tariffs
Keeping in mind that these are all recharge rewards and that you still get to spend the airtime you loaded, we have to compare the tariffs of Cell C’s prepaid products to get the full picture.
Cell C’s EasyChat prepaid tariff plan does not get SupaCharge, but has exclusive access to the MegaBonus or MegaData rewards.
The table below shows how Cell C’s prepaid tariffs compare to one another, and to the Telkom More prepaid plan.
| Tariffs | EasyChat | 66C | 99c For Real | Telkom More |
| Calls: on-net | R1.50 | R0.66 | R0.99 | R1.90 |
| Calls: toll-free | R1.50 | R2.50 | R2.50 | R1.90 |
| SMS: local | R0.50 | R0.50 | R0.50 | R0.50 |
| SMS: international | R1.70 | R2.00 | R1.70 | R1.50 |
| Data | R0.79 | R2.00 | R0.99 | R1.00 |
Cell C MegaBonus vs Telkom More airtime rewards
We also compared Cell C’s existing MegaBonus rewards to the bonus airtime system on the Telkom More plan.
As with MegaData and SupaCharge, recharge amounts that fall in-between the tiers listed also qualify for rewards.
| Prepaid airtime promos | Cell C MegaBonus | Telkom More | ||
| Recharge amount | Bonus airtime | Validity | Bonus airtime | Validity |
| R5 | R10 | 3 days | R5 | 7 days |
| R10 | R20 | 3 days | R10 | 7 days |
| R20 | R40 | 3 days | R20 | 7 days |
| R25 | R50 | 3 days | R25 | 7 days |
| R30 | R60 | 3 days | R30 | 7 days |
| R35 | R70 | 3 days | R35 | 7 days |
| R50 | R100 | 3 days | R50 | 7 days |
| R60 | R120 | 3 days | R60 | 7 days |
| R70 | R140 | 3 days | R70 | 7 days |
| R100 | R200 | 5 days | R100 | 7 days |
| R120 | R240 | 5 days | R120 | 7 days |
| R150 | R300 | 5 days | R150 | 7 days |
| R200 | R400 | 5 days | R200 | 7 days |
| R300 | R600 | 5 days | R300 | 7 days |
| R500 | R1,000 | 5 days | R500 | 7 days |
| Variable recharges also receive the MegaBonus or Telkom More benefits. MegaBonus gives 200% bonus airtime. Telkom More gives 100% bonus airtime. | ||||
MTN and Vodacom points rewards
Not included in the comparisons are the points-based rewards systems of MTN and Vodacom.
These let you earn an amount of points based on different criteria, which can then be exchanged for services on the network.
In both systems, you have to earn a lot of points before you can exchange them for any decent amount of value, and it is difficult to compare them to one another or to the systems shown above.
Vodacom Talking Points are calculated by dividing the amount you recharge with by 10, and then rounding it off to the nearest whole number.
Points are carried over for 18 months, and can be exchanged for SMS and data bundles, and discounts on calls.
MTN’s 1–4–1 loyalty points system works differently, allowing subscribers to earn points as follows:
- 1 loyalty point for every R1 spent on the MTN network
- 1 loyalty point for every day your mobile number is active on the MTN Network
- 1 loyalty point for every R1 subscription paid on a post-paid or top-up package
Points are valid for 24 months and can be exchanged for airtime, SMS and data bundles, and MTN Muziq.
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