WhatsApp voice calling is set to launch in the coming weeks, offering users the ability to call other mobile phones free of charge (excluding mobile data costs).<\/p>\n
In a recent MyBroadband poll over 70% of people said they are looking forward to WhatsApp voice calling.<\/p>\n
Despite this ostensible popularity, the mobile operators have downplayed the threat of free WhatsApp voice calls on their voice revenues.<\/p>\n
However, with millions of WhatsApp users in South Africa, some industry players said that this threat cannot be ignored.<\/p>\n
Unbeknown to many people, Vodacom and MTN filed higher data prices for VoIP with South Africa\u2019s telecommunications regulator Icasa years ago.<\/p>\n
Vodacom lodged a tariff of R10 per MB for VoIP traffic, while MTN lodged a tariff of R25 per MB.<\/p>\n
MTN even warns users in its terms and conditions that: \u201cYou will also be charged retrospectively at R21.93 per Megabyte (VAT excluded) [R25 per MB VAT included] for any VoIP traffic\u2026\u201d.<\/p>\n
These higher VoIP data tariffs have never been applied. There is, however, some concern that they may be implemented if VoIP traffic significantly impacts voice revenues.<\/p>\n
Larry Annetts, chief marketing officer at MTN SA, said<\/strong>\u00a0they have no plans to charge more for VoIP data.<\/p>\n \u201cData prices have been coming down, we don\u2019t have plans to increase prices for VoIP services,\u201d said Alberts.<\/p>\n Cell C said<\/strong> that it cannot comment at this stage on whether it will charge higher rates for VoIP data traffic.<\/p>\n However, the company did say it is open to these types of services and will continue to embrace these players.\u00a0\u201cWe will always try and find ways that are beneficial to all parties, including customers and the OTT players,\u201d Cell C said.<\/p>\n Telkom said<\/strong> that \u201cmore granular mobile data charging based on application or traffic type\u201d is currently not done on its network.<\/p>\n \u201cA re-assessment of this will depend on the impact on the network should the technology mature and demand increases significantly,\u201d said Jacqui O\u2019 Sullivan, Telkom\u2019s managing executive for group communication.<\/p>\n Vodacom said<\/strong>\u00a0the likely direction for the industry was that voice pricing will be common across all carriers. This, Vodacom said, includes normal voice calls on 2G and 3G networks, and VoIP services like WhatsApp voice calling.<\/p>\n \u201cThis would reduce complexity for the customer and ensure that no service is discriminated against,\u201d said Vodacom.<\/p>\n WhatsApp voice calling \u2013 nightmare for mobile operators?<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Big threat to Vodacom, MTN, Cell C here soon<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\nMore on WhatsApp voice calling<\/h3>\n