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THE telecoms regulator, Independent Communications Authority of South Africa wants the Electronic Communications Act to be amended to allow the government to set cellphone tariffs.

In a move that is expected to be met with stiff resistance from the cellphone industry, Themba Phiri, deputy director-general in the Department of Communications, told Parliament, which is holding hearings into the high cost of telecommunications tariffs in South Africa, that the government was considering the introduction of "a flat rate regime" for cellphone calls.

Phiri said cellphone call charges in South Africa were very high, compared to other countries in the world. This is despite the intervention of former communication minister Siphiwe Nyanda in 2010 to reduce the cost of making cellphone calls.

"The amendment to the (Act) in addressing matters which hinder competition and other related matters needs to observed ... the imposition of a flat rate on mobile voice calls in SA needs to be studied to determine its relevance in today's market ... regulation of transparency in the pricing and the publication of mobile retail prices is a very important policy issue," said Phiri.

Nyanda's intervention reduced cellphone termination rates from R2.50 to 89c a minute in 2010, and this was expected to drop further in March next year to 40c a minute.

Cellphone termination rates is what mobile operators charge consumers to carry calls between different networks.

Phiri said despite this, the cost of making cellphone calls remained "very high". Vodacom and MTN account for highest package price of between R2.50 and R2.58 a minute to make a call.

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Fri May 24 22:40:24 SAST 2013 ::

Nov 30, 2012

!#Sinudeity#!

Is the ANC going to start its own cellphone network provider? :P
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Nov 30, 2012

Tpaz!!

This mahlala thing, double summer and chattty things are a rip off. Just charge 0.50c per min for all calls to any network anytime any package.

SMS should be 10c....because WhatApp and other chat apps are taking over.


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Nov 30, 2012

TLekota

If ANC starts its own network I will get their membership for the free of it.
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Nov 30, 2012

CheeseBoy

We are being robbed blind by greedy cell phone operators and our govt is sanctioning it.

We are being robbed blind by bankers, sorry wankers and our govt is sanctioning it.

We are being robbed blind by the e toll companies and our govt is sanctioning it.

I have it on good authority that even so called proudly Mzansi products are cheaper in europe than locally.

matter of fact we are being robbed blind by our very own govt. who will look after our interests if our so called saviours are also wolves in sheeps clothing.
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Nov 30, 2012

MommaC

SA charges among world's highest

.... story of our lives - for everything!

You want to really skrik, try getting a call whilst on roaming. Flippin R20 per minute or part thereof.
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Nov 30, 2012

ntshware-ke-yawa

arg,doesn't matter anymore coz this issue has been highlighted and proposed many a times by S.A govt and Communication Dept. i am loosing it now.
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Nov 30, 2012

Ndele01

If skills go down, the efficiency of running a business (like Escom, Telkom, Municipalities, etc) go down - that means things are left to break totally instead of maintaining it.....corrupiton increases.......skills outside South Africa need to be hired at dollar rates......consultant with no skills are paid millions without adding value, .....oh ! you know what I'm talking about !!!!

Than means that costs will go through the roof ! We had the cheapest electricity in the world in 1994 ! - and now ??

Keep on voting ANC !
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Nov 30, 2012

sekhebereshe

cell phone rates are very high indeed.
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Nov 30, 2012

Idohl

This is issue has been dragging on for long now. It shows the govt does'nt really care. With almost all of them corrupt to the core, I suspect someone is getting something here.
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Nov 30, 2012

Vanzwane

Second MommaC - The cost of living in S.A requires deeper pockets!

Mobile Telecommunication Network !
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