Roaming data rate: R534,477 per GB
You may pay as much as R534,000 per GB for international data roaming. This is the shocking truth about the high data roaming charges which South Africans face when travelling abroad.
What is even more problematic is that these rates are out of the hands of South Africa operators – they simply pass on the bill from their international roaming partners to their subscribers.
Many travelers take their mobile phones or data dongles with them when they travel internationally to stay in touch and be assured they will be able to check their e-mail and surf the web.
It is no secret that international roaming can be costly, but many people are still surprised when they receive a bill of thousands of Rands when returning from an overseas trip.
Too see just how expensive mobile data roaming can be, have a look at some of the international data roaming rates from local cellular operators.
- Vodacom ‘Rest of World’ standard data roaming rate (R128 per MB): R131,000 per GB
- MTN North America data roaming rate (R3.50 for 25KB): R146,800 per GB
- MTN Oceania data roaming rate (R4.00 for 25KB): R167,772 per GB
- Cell C Malaysia data roaming rate (U Mobile – R521.98 for 1MB): R534,477 per GB
It should be noted that Vodacom has a flat rate of R17.50 per MB as part of their “Super-Saver Data Rates”, but these rates are only applicable on selected networks.
To put this in perspective (not that a price of R534,477 per GB needs any perspective), imagine a traveler is in a Malaysian hotel, using the U Mobile network to check mail and do some web surfing. An automated 64-bit Windows 7 service pack update kicks in, downloading the full 903.2MB update.
When this unsuspecting traveler arrives home, he will get a bill of around R500,000 (you read it correctly, half a million bucks) from his beloved mobile provider. The only question which remains is whether selling a kidney or coughing up a lung is the easiest way to settle this account.
There has been some progress from SA operators to lower the cost of international roaming, but the best advice may still be to purchase a prepaid SIM (from that country) when you arrive in a country to avoid bill shock.
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