Move to cut data costs

THE Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) has confirmed it will table a report on its findings in bringing the cost of data down.

Icasa acting chairman Rubben Mohlaloga said yesterday the report would be released in April.

During the debate on the State of the Nation Address this week Postal Services and Telecommunications Minister Siyabonga Cwele said the Icasa report would give guidance on how data costs would be reduced.

He said the drop in data cost would be realised if there was more competition in the market. He wanted the market to be opened up and more small players be involved to increase competition.

“The next stage is the most critical one, where we will be asking for specific information from the operators,” he said.

Each operator was using a different model to charge prices for data.

“We will say if this is what it costs to produce a megabyte, say it costs 5c but you sell it for 20c, we will introduce a tariff,” he said.