On Wednesday, the Independent Communications Authority of SA (Icasa) assured Parliament that it will fight for the high cost of data to come down‚ specifically targeting high out-of-bundle data costs and expiring data bundles.Icasa said the high cost of communicating — SA has some of the highest costs of communication in the world — would be tackled in its new regulations. "The cost to communicate must come down‚ there is no two ways about it. And it must come down significantly" acting chairperson Rubben Mohlaloga told Parliament’s select committee on communications and public enterprises.Currently‚ only about 40% of South Africans have access to a smartphone or a tablet‚ but with this number growing each year‚ data usage is expected to exceed the use of voice services soon. Of particular concern to Icasa are the high costs of out-of-bundle data and the expiry of data bundles after 30 days.Mohlaloga also said those who bought smaller data bundles ended up paying more than those who...
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