Capitec cuts data prices as poll shows 87% feel limited by high costs
A recent Capitec poll involving thousands of South Africans revealed that 87% of respondents feel the high cost of data limits their access to crucial work, education, and other opportunities. This poll reinforces Capitec Connect's decision to reduce prices across its prepaid data bundles significantly. Capitec Connect is South Africa's fastest-growing mobile virtual network operator (MVNO), onboarding roughly 180,000 new active clients monthly. The latest price updates make it even more accessible for South Africans to stay connected, particularly as we face increased living expenses.
Capitec Connect's updated prices on popular bundles are as follows:
· 500MB (1-day): R10
· 1GB (7-day): R25
· 2GB (7-day): R35
· 5GB (7-day): R85
· 5GB (30-day): R100
· 10GB (30-day): R150 Dr Dalene Steyn, Head of Capitec Connect, notes that Statista projects South Africa's mobile internet users will grow from 13.82 million in 2024 to 25.83 million by 2029, underscoring the critical role data access plays in citizens' daily lives.
'Understanding the economic climate is crucial, and we know many South Africans are carefully managing their expenses. That's why we're proactively lowering costs to provide tangible savings for our clients. Affordable data is vital for work, education, and staying connected to loved ones. This price reduction is part of our ongoing commitment to providing simple and affordable solutions that empower our clients.'
Why affordable data matters now more than ever
The decision to lower data prices comes at a crucial time. Capitec's poll underscores the financial pressures associated with data costs. Confirming data as a lifeline beyond entertainment, most respondents reported using the most data during the afternoon (43%), often for work, study, or online shopping. Evening usage (binge-watching and scrolling) followed at 32%.
When asked what consumes most of their data, 62% pointed to social media, with 27% citing streaming music and videos.
'These insights reveal that data has become an essential enabler of careers, education, and staying informed. By making data significantly more affordable, we're not just cutting prices, we're investing in our clients' ability to participate fully in the digital world. We understand that these savings can make a meaningful difference in our clients' lives,' adds Steyn.
Lower data prices to keep clients connected
'We listen to our clients and are constantly looking for ways to offer them more value. By lowering our data prices, especially on the larger, longer-validity bundles, we hope to alleviate some financial pressure and ensure more South Africans can stay connected using some of South Africa's best-priced prepaid bundles,' concludes Steyn.
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