High data costs inquiry in SA is on the horizon

A market inquiry into high data costs in South Africa is on the horizon…

Economic Development Minister Ebrahim Patel on Thursday announced he would be asking the Competition Commission to the conduct the probe.

Tabling his department’s budget vote, Patel cited the Economist newspaper which published a story describing data as the world’s most valuable resource and a driver of growth and change.

Tbo touch sold us dreams with that #DataMustFall of his 😢😢😩😩

— “as a Benz owner” (@amanda_mpedi) May 21, 2017

“Yet the growth of this data-driven economy is constrained by high data costs, which affect users of cell-phones and laptops and businesses who require high volumes of data,” he said.

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“To promote the new data-driven economy and address high data costs, and following discussion with [Telecommunications Minister Siyabonga] Minister Cwele, I will request the Competition

Commission to conduct a market inquiry into this sector and to work with other regulators to establish the facts, identify measures to reduce data costs and make recommendations to government.”

I’m almost at that “please buy me data” point! Gosh man @MTNza how??? just how does 300mb disappear in 1 day??? #DataMustFall

— Ikhraam Botha (@ikieboi) May 24, 2017

The inquiry follows a public campaign against South Africa’s data costs, which according to studies, are among the highest in the world.

Last year, Parliament held public hearings into data costs. At the time, MPs urged mobile operators to cut their costs and threatened that should they not, the National Assembly would do it for them.

– African News Agency