10GB mobile data showdown

Hello Mobile and Afrihost’s AirMobile offer the most affordable 10-gigabyte data bundles in the South African market. However, FNB Connect’s 12GB bundle provides the best value for money in the 10GB to 15GB bundle range.

MyBroadband compared 10GB data bundles offered by South Africa’s mobile networks and mobile virtual network operators (MVNO) to determine the most affordable package.

As with most products, the more purchased, the more affordable it becomes per unit — or gigabyte in this case.

For example, the most affordable 5GB data bundles start at R18 per gig, whereas 10GB bundles start at just over R13 per gig.

This can be an essential consideration for those who don’t have access to a fixed Internet connection at home — roughly 85% of the South African population.

There have been recent developments in fibre product offerings aimed at lower-income segments. However, it will take time for these to reach all corners of the country.

On the other hand, just under 79% of the population have the means to access the Internet using any medium, according to StatsSA’s 2023 household survey.

This is despite Vodacom and MTN achieving 99% LTE/4G coverage of South Africa’s population.

However, this requires mobile data, which can be expensive.

Therefore, for households that rely on cellular data connectivity, it may be worth buying bigger bundles to get more value for money.

People travelling and not always near a Wi-Fi hotspot may also consume large amounts of mobile data, thus needing larger data bundles.

Fortunately for South Africans, the mobile market is fiercely competitive.

The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) recently reported observing continued competitiveness between network operators in the first six months of 2024.

Icasa said operators were also incentivizing and rewarding loyal customers while attracting new customers by providing more affordable access to communication services.

Operators have also enabled MVNOs to enter the field and increase competition.

A recent BMIT report said that MVNOs are seeing renewed interest in South Africa and are emerging as the primary driving factor of the country’s mobile market growth.

The report shows MVNO subscribers have almost doubled from just over 2.5 million to under 5 million since 2022.

The competitiveness that the MVNOs bring to the market is evident in the comparison, as virtual networks offer the three most affordable bundles.

It is important to note that some operators don’t offer 10GB bundles, so the closest package to 10GB was chosen to represent as many operators as possible.

FNB Connect, an MVNO roaming on Cell C and MTN’s networks, offers a 15GB bundle for R199, or R13.27 per gigabyte.

Hello Mobile comes in at number two with a 10GB bundle for R149. While the bundle is cheaper than on FNB Connect, the price per gigabyte is higher at R14.90.

For R1 more, Afrihost Airmobile, roaming on MTN’s network, also has a 10GB bundle, costing R15 per gig.

The first mobile network on the list, Cell C, appears in fourth place, offering a 10GB bundle for R159, or R15.90 per gig.

Telkom, Vodacom, and Standard Bank Connect are at the other end of the spectrum, offering data bundles that cost between R33 and R40 per gig.

Standard Bank Connect roams on MTN’s network and offers a 10GB top-up bundle for R399, the most expensive package per gigabyte at R39.90.

Vodacom’s 12GB for R469 was the second most expensive bundle per gig at R39.08.

The table below shows each bundle’s size, payment type, price, and price per gig.