SA data, airtime too expensive
The persistent issue of expensive data and telephone call costs in South Africa requires urgent and meaningful intervention.
It has been six years since Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams, Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, committed to tackling the "exorbitant" pricing within the communications sector.
Regrettably, this commitment has not yet translated into noticeable improvements for consumers. A comparison with other African nations clearly illustrates the price discrepancy.
In Ghana, for example, 1 GB of data can be obtained for as little as R1.49, with the highest price point around R23 for the same amount. South African consumers, on the other hand, face considerably steeper charges.
To illustrate, Cell C offers 1 GB valid for a single day at R25. Capitec Connect charges R25 for 1 GB valid for a week, and R45 for data without expiry. Even these rates appear more competitive when compared to Vodacom and MTN, both of which charge R89 for 1.2 GB.
Further highlighting the disparity, data costs in Nigeria and Brazil are significantly lower, with 1 GB priced at about US$0.39 (R7.12) and US$0.40 (R7.31), respectively.
Concerns over these high costs have been raised by various political voices over time. The Inkatha Freedom Party initially called for action, and more recently, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) have advocated for the immediate removal of expiry dates for prepaid mobile data and airtime.
This underscores the double challenge faced by consumers: high prices coupled with the risk of losing unused data and airtime due to expiration.
Promotional offers, such as limited-time WhatsApp data, often force users into intensive, short-term usage to avoid losing their allocation.
Until significant reductions in data and call costs are achieved, many South Africans, particularly the youth in both rural and urban areas who are disproportionately affected by these high expenses, will likely continue to feel that the financial burden they face is not being adequately addressed by the relevant authorities.
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