PARLIAMENT has taken a stand against South Africa’s high data costs warning service providers to reduce their rates or have authorities do it for them.
This comes after recent massive public outcry on social media over the high cost of data.
Mobile network providers first came under-fire when radio presenter Thabo Molefe better known as Tbo Touch pioneered the campaign. The #DataMustFall campaign has shone the spotlight on the cost of data in South Africa compared to other countries.
On average 1 gigabyte (GB) of data costs R11 in India, R22 in Nigeria and R32 in Namibia, South Africans are paying a whopping R150 per GB.
According to Mmamoloko Kubayi, chairwoman of Parliament’s portfolio committee on telecommunications and postal services, network operators have just over a month to amend their data costs.
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Twitter’s response:
https://twitter.com/Barry_Roux/status/780109857869459456
Why does data expire when airtime doesn't? #datamustfall
— Thuls (@MmathuleB) September 16, 2016
When you buy the 1gig after midnight for R10 on MTN but they chow your regular data instead #datamustfall
— hudayfah (@hudayfah) September 16, 2016
#DataMustFall refuses to vanish, it's a serious issue and I dare say operators silence is rude, they have to change the status quo.
— KhayelihleKhumalo (@KhayaJames) September 18, 2016