SA's network providers grilled in parliament

The South African

7 hours ago

The CEOs of South Africa's network providers faced the music last week in parliament over sub-standard service delivery to the poor. Fronting up to Members of Parliament (MPs) in the Communications Committee on Friday 13 June 2025, South Africa's network providers were openly criticised for not prioritising poor and rural communities. The committee says its goal is to achieve 'universal connectivity' in the country.
Specifically, Vodacom, MTN, Cell C, Telkom, and Rain had to answer for poor connectivity in rural communities. As well as their on-going pursuit of expiration policies for data and airtime services. In turn, the CEOs of SA's network providers insisted to the committee they've made major strides in expanding coverage. CEOs say their companies have made great strides, but MPs think more can and should be done for 'universal connectivity' in South Africa. Image: Pixabay
At the centre of this furore is the fact the nearly 45% of South African residents need a smartphone with data access to verify their SASSA grants. Recent security updates to stave off fraud and identity theft from the South African Social Security Agency now requires a smartphone and data for biometric verification.
As such, the committee believes network providers can do more regarding the cost of data. And called for them to consider measures to further reduce the cost and prioritise rural connectivity, reports The Citizen . Attending MPs also keenly challenged the logic behind data and airtime expiry. Saying, 'It's purely capitalistic exploitation of consumers. Data and airtime are not perishable goods. Therefore, their expiration is unjust and violates consumer rights,' said the committee.
Another MP called South Africa's network providers 'loan sharks.' 'Instead of cutting data and airtime costs, they are advancing it,' said the MP. Likewise, the high salaries paid to CEOs of network providers was also called into question. Especially, in light of uplifting poor and rural communities. The committee meets with the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT) in the coming weeks to deliberate on its budget.
Another conversation took place around constructing a South African satellite. MTN's CEO, Charles Molapisi, told the committee that it has partnerships with non-terrestrial and satellite players such as Starlink. Last month, South Africa took a step closer to obtaining Elon Musk's Starlink satellite internet service. The DCDT published a policy directive around the Electronic Communications Act (ECA) that requires a minimum of 30% shares be in the hands of historically disadvantaged individuals. Many think this will pave the way for the service to enter the country, even though Elon Musk is not black or historically disadvantaged.
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