In an article that explored the online shopping habits of South Africans during the lockdown, a Bizcommunity article found that we are spending considerably more money on mobile data. The surge in mobile data spending can be attributed to the fact that the majority of the South African workforce is working from home for the duration of the lockdown. Plus, social distancing means that everyone is staying home much more and streaming a lot.

South Africa is notorious for having high data prices that can be detrimental to a developing country. If you buy data bundles in bulk amounts such as 60GB or 80GB; it is cheaper, but this module alienates the poor and favours the privileged. So we’re doing a side by side comparison of which network offers the most inexpensive mobile data bundles.

We compare the four major networks in Africa, namely; Vodacom, MTN, Cell C and Telkom. We also included Rain because of the increased popularity of the mobile network:

Data prices per gig:

Network Anytime Data Midnight Data Price
Vodacom 1GB 0GB R99
Cell C 1GB 2GB R100
MTN 1GB 0BG R149
Telkom 1GB 1GB R100
Rain 1GB 0GB R50

 

Bulk data prices:

Network Anytime Data Price
Vodacom 20GB R1 010
Cell C 20GB R799
MTN 20GB R899
Telkom 50GB R905
Rain Unlimited R479 

 

Rain seems to be leading the pack with the lowest mobile data prices. But selecting your preferred network doesn’t stop at cost, consider the network coverage in your area.

Click the link below to determine which carrier is best for your area.

https://www.nperf.com/en/map/ZA/-/-./signal/

Sources:

https://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/196/182/206224.html

https://www.mtn.co.za/Pages/Reduced-bundles.aspx

https://briefly.co.za/20924-how-buy-data-telkom-mobile.html

https://briefly.co.za/22917-telkom-data-prices-2020.html

https://www.itweb.co.za/content/rxP3jqBpLYL7A2ye

https://www.rain.co.za/

https://www.vodacom.co.za/vodacom/shopping/data/prepaid-data

https://mybroadband.co.za/news/cellular/360147-best-prepaid-mobile-data-prices-in-south-africa.html