MTN and Competition Commission Finally Agree on Reduced Data Prices

MTN South Africa announced that it has officially finalised an agreement with the Competition Commission on a wide array of price adjustments – implemented 15 April.

This agreement follows the Commission’s Data Service Market Inquiry in December 2019 and subsequent negotiations between the Commission and industry.

“We are pleased to have reached this agreement with the Competition Commission as it is a further social commitment that MTN will continue to advance the significant measures already implemented over the past number of years, to drive financial inclusion and reduce data prices,” says CEO of MTN South Africa, Godfrey Motsa.

MTN’s undertakings with the Competition Commission cover the following:

• Price reductions:
  • All of MTN’s sub-1GB 30-day data bundles (from R10 – R149) will be reduced by up to 50%.
• Free data:
  • A daily free 20MB allocation of data to all MTN customers to send pictures, messages, video and to browse the Internet, using the Ayoba app.
• Free access to public benefit websites:
  • The introduction of MTN OpenTime – free access to education, health and employment websites – of up to 500 unique sites that will be accessible without data charges.
• Tracking personal data usage and data spend:
  • Enhanced data usage and tariff information for all customers, to track usage and to inform customers of their data spending habits.

MTN’s price reductions as from 15 April 2020:

The very popular monthly sub-1Gigabyte category sees significant price reductions implemented on 15 April, while the monthly 20MB and 50MB bundles double in volume – from 20MB to 40MB and from 50MB to 100MB – without any change in price. Prices stay at R10 and R20 respectively, but for double the data.

Users of the popular 1GB bundle will enjoy a 34% price reduction, from R149 to just R99, while 1.5GB users can now stay in touch for R149, a drop of 21%. Users in the larger 50GB and 100GB ranges will also see significant savings with prices dipping 25% and 29% respectively.

The new prices and volumes are detailed below: