MTN South Africa has announced out-of-bundle data, voice, and SMS price hikes that will impact all the mobile operator’s prepaid customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It says the price hikes are necessary to continue providing superior network and value-driven propositions in the face of ongoing macroeconomic challenges and rising operational costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“MTN will be making strategic adjustments to its Prepaid Price Plans Rates to remain competitive and continue to deliver a quality network,” it said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This change applies to new and existing prepaid customers on the following price plans:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
MTN’s out-of-bundle voice rates are charged per minute, data rates are charged per MB, and SMSes are charged per message.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The mobile operator advises that customers purchase voice, data, and SMS bundles to avoid being charged out-of-bundle rates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Regarding out-of-bundle voice rates, those on the MTN Bonus Bonanza Bonus Airtime plan are the hardest hit, with rates increasing from R2.50 to R3.00 per minute.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Those on the MTN Pulse plan will continue to pay the lowest out-of-bundle voice rates, but the price per minute will increase from R1.05 to R1.15.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
MTN Bonus Bonanza Bonus Airtime customers are also hardest hit by the out-of-bundle data rate hike, which will result in a 200% increase in rates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The out-of-bundle price per MB of data on this price plan is increasing from R1.00 to R3.00.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, MTN says the plan rewards customers with 100% bonus airtime on recharges of R5 or more. Free bonus data for airtime recharges will increase to the out-of-bundle data rate of R3.00 per MB.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“In addition, the standard out-of-bundle data rate on Bonus Bonanza will be increased from R0.29 to R0.32 per MB which is lower than the industry practice,” it says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“MTN out-of-bundle rates on all prepaid plans are charged per second as opposed to per minute to offer customers more value.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The out-of-bundle SMS rates are consistent across all six plans, with the price per SMS increasing from R0.35 to R0.40.<\/p>\n\n\n\n