‘SA call, data costs affordable’

Operators say charges reduced 50%

THE country’s mobile operators yesterday denied their call and data prices were unaffordable, when they briefed MPs as part of public hearings on the cost to communicate.

Vodacom, cited by various groups as the most expensive network in the country, said call prices had dropped an effective 48% over the past three years, while data prices have dropped by over 50% over the same period.

“We see ourselves as the most expensive, because I think a lot of things need to be taken into account,” said Zunaid Mahomed, Vodacom’s managing executive for product and commercial management.

“We focused on having the best network, trying to give customers the best maximum value, and actually having the best customer experience, and we believe the combination of all three is what actually sets are doing,” said R2K’s Carlos Rey-Moreno.

R2K’s impassioned plea followed presentations from various interested parties calling for increased regulation of call and data costs.

On Tuesday, Thabo Molefe, better known as DJ Tbo Touch – the man who initiated the #DataMustFall campaign – asked that data and call costs be slashed in half.

“Our proposal is simple. We never said data must be free. Networks are giving away free Whatsapp. If that’s possible, they can cut the price in half.”

Molefe started his campaign last week by giving cellphone networks a 30-day ultimatum to make a change, or else subscribers would migrate to a cheaper service provider. Following the two days of public hearings MPs would discuss the submissions before submitting a report with proposals to the National Assembly for approval. – ANA