Vodacom has introduced tariff changes to its mobile plans and packages, including a reduction in out-of-bundle rates.
The telecoms operator received a public backlash this week, after proposing to charge its customers up to R49 for its data bundle roll-over service from 1 March.
The proposed fees came as the Independent Communications Authority of SA's (ICASA's) End-user and Subscriber Service Charter (EUSSC) amendment regulations are set to come into effect on Thursday at midnight, aimed at putting an end to automatic out-of-bundle billing and allow users to roll-over unused data.
Following an investigation from ICASA, Vodacom has backtracked on its initial proposition and has reduced its out-of-bundle rates, while offering a free roll-over service for contract and hybrid customers.
"In terms of the new ICASA regulations, Vodacom's contract and hybrid customers who subscribe to data only packages or an integrated package that includes data will continue to have data rolled over automatically by a period of one month. This remains free of charge to the customer," noted Vodacom in a media statement.
"From 1 March, remaining data on bundle purchases by all customers will be rolled over at no additional charge once a customer purchases the same bundle as the original one."
The telco says from Thursday, out-of-bundle rates will decline from R0.99c per MB for prepaid customers and R0.89c for hybrid and contract customers to a single R0.49c per MB tariff across the board.
Jorge Mendes, Vodacom's chief officer: Consumer Business Unit, says: "In addition to implementing the ICASA regulations, we have gone further by slashing out-of-bundle data rates by between 45-70% to ensure increased value to customers.
"Additionally, roll-over of data will be free. Over the past three years, Vodacom has reduced the effective price of data by more than 40% which shows that our pricing transformation journey continues to deliver real value to customers."
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