Johannesburg: AfricUpdate – News Desk
The Competition Commission’s Cost of Living Report (August 2025) sheds new light on South Africa’s long-running “DataMustFall” campaign by examining internet costs in the broader context of rising living expenses.
The report confirms that while the 2019 Data Services Market Inquiry forced a major reduction in data prices – Vodacom, MTN, Cell C and Telkom all cut their 1GB bundles by over 30%, the relief has not kept pace with other cost-of-living pressures. Wireless internet costs, primarily mobile data, have risen only 1% since 2022, a stark contrast to wired broadband, which climbed 14% over the same period. In some cases, fibre operators priced far above the market average, with certain packages costing nearly 60% more than comparable offers.
This divergence highlights a growing inequality in digital access. While mobile data remains relatively affordable, heavy users, students, and small businesses increasingly reliant on stable fibre connections face higher bills. The Commission notes that internet access is now an essential service comparable to electricity or water, making its affordability central to both household budgets and national digital inclusion goals.
The endurance of the DataMustFall movement reflects these pressures. Despite earlier price cuts, consumers are again voicing concerns about opaque pricing, sticky retail margins, and the slow pass-through of cost savings to users. At the same time, telecoms companies argue that infrastructure costs, electricity hikes, and network expansion obligations drive their pricing decisions.
Placed alongside steep increases in electricity up 68% in five years and water up 50%, the modest 1% rise in wireless data costs appears less severe. Yet for low-income households, where internet access competes with food, transport, and school fees for a shrinking share of income, even small increases matter. With over 13 million South Africans online, internet affordability remains at the heart of economic participation and social equity.
