The Competition Commission of South Africa (CCSA) and Vodacom held a Press briefing in Pretoria, Hatfield in the Tshedimosetso House on Tuesday 10 April 2020, to announce an agreement reached by both parties to reduce data prices by 30% effective 01 April 2020.
The cost of the reduction will see Vodacom sacrificing R2.7 billion for its customers, according to Commissioner, Mr Thembinkosi Bonakele.
“One gigabyte monthly data will drop From R149 per 1 gigabyte to R99 (including VAT) which represents a 34% price decrease,” he said.
Mr Bonakele said customers that buy the lowest volumes of data, will see the greatest benefit from these price decreases.
Vodacom CEO, Mr Shammel Joosub, said Vodacom has already connected 3000 schools in partnership with the Department of Basic Education. He said there are 92 teacher training centres and 10 Youth centres with free access for most of the public university portals.
He said the E- school platform which provides Caps curriculum content from Grade R to 12 promotes a better pass rate.
Vodacom will also offer mom and baby equipment information, free Facebook, two free SMSs daily to all prepaid customers.
There will also be zero-rated data chargers on government websites, full free internet search from information sites like Wikipedia, free internet access to updates, Headlines, weather and trends.
Minister of Trade and industry, Mr Ephraim Patel, said by next year April 2021, 1Gigabyte might be reduced up to 40%.
“The final report of the Data Market Inquiry was released in 2019 December by the competition commission.
“The importance of reducing data access is to promote access to the digital economy for more South Africans because when prices are lower, it promotes greater levels of competitiveness to enhance the economy,’ Minister Patel said.
