Relief for data users in South Africa as Icasa overhauls bundle expiry rules

THE days of wasted data and surprise charges will soon be over after the country’s regulator, Icasa, introduced new rules that force rollovers, prioritise older bundles, and give users full control of their airtime.

- MTHOBISI NOZULELA

This comes after widespread outrage over the rising costs of mobile data and complaints from users losing bundles before they could be fully used. The new rules aim to protect consumers and make mobile services fairer.

The End-User and Subscriber Service Charter Amendment Regulations, published in the Government Gazette, set out exactly how mobile operators must manage data, voice, and SMS bundles.