The new #DataMustFall battleground
In the latest struggle between telcos and consumers, do Icasa’s proposals go far enough to make a difference?
Is it too soon for consumers to pat themselves on the back? Government initiated a second inquiry into mobile data last week, after a #DataMustFall campaign drew attention to the problems in the way consumers are charged by mobile operators. The latest action — draft regulations published by the Independent Communications Authority of SA (Icasa) — could change the way operators apply expiry dates to data bundles. It comes after government’s recent decision to investigate data prices. Data has become the new battleground for mobile operators and consumers. It is a huge growth area for service providers, accounting for between 25% and 35% of their revenue. Over time, data may even overtake revenue from voice calls. The ability to make calls using services such as WhatsApp and Facebook will drive this. It has created the need for consumers to buy data bundles, which are a more cost-effective way to purchase data. At the moment, the most common validity period for data is 30 days, thoug...
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