Data costs must fall

IT IS ENCOURAGING that The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) is holding an inquiry to try to reduce the country’s high data costs.

It is preposterous that South Africa’s data costs are up to 10 times more than our neighbouring countries.

Surely this reeks of the major networks monopolising data and cellphone costs and should be investigated for price-fixing.

The world evolves around digital technology and South Africa is also at the forefront.

These exorbitant charges affect the most needy, who consider computers and cellphones a necessity and not a nice to have device.

High data costs hit students struggling to attain a decent education the hardest.

Imagine a student surfing the web to complete an assignment when up comes the dreaded message “you have exceeded your data capacity”.

To continue accessing the internet one has to purchase a minimum of a gigabyte of data for at least R150.

It is perceived that another data guzzler is Microsoft’s Windows Version 10.

Unlike previous versions of operating software ordinary users are unable to turn off this update and are not even aware that every time it runs in the background it chews up at least a gigabyte of data.

It is way overdue for government to stamp out these excessive data costs for its people to advance in technology and education.

By reducing data costs ordinary South Africans will have extra cash to spend on bare necessities such as food and clothing thereby stimulating the failing economy. VIJAY SEWTAHAL

Clare Estate