Vodacom likely to lead the charge for data subscribers

Vodacom could potentially lead the battle for mobile Internet users by slashing data prices in the lead-up to the opening of the market with the introduction of cheaper and faster broadband access.

FMTech reports that senior executives at Vodacom will be meeting shortly to discuss their broadband tariff plans, with the expected upshot being a substantial reduction in data prices.

“Data tariffs will have to come down. We will make an announcement soon,” said Romeo Kumalo, the group’s commercial director.

He said Vodacom hoped to trigger a “revolution” in broadband communications similar to that which followed the introduction of prepaid packages.

“Making the Internet accessible to the masses is our key strategy for this year,” Kumalo says. “The majority of South Africans will experience the Internet for the very first time on their mobiles.”

An indication of what lies in store for consumers – albeit at the higher end of the market – is Vodacom’s announcement that it was reducing the tariff for its BlackBerry service. Both contract and prepaid users will now pay R59/month for unlimited data access on their BlackBerry handsets.

This option is restricted to data downloaded on the BlackBerry device, whereas normal data tariffs apply when the device is tethered to a computer.

The price of the BlackBerry Enterprise service has also been reduced, from R139/month to R98/month.