EFF CALLS FOR COMPLETE REDUCTION OF DATA COSTS
Thursday, April 26, 2018
The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) has finally made its public announcement on data prices after taking long in the consultation process.
This, however, is not enough. The Economic Freedom Fighters call for a complete reduction on data costs, not a mere rollover of data for end users.
Data costs are ridiculously high in South Africa compared with other African countries. Yet, it is the same South African companies that sell data in these countries.
In the age of information technology, communication has become a human right. Without access to data, many poor people are closed out of public discourse, and access to information fundamental to their survival. The very capacity for a healthy democracy, as well as quality education and healthcare lies in access to information which is made possible by the internet. This possibility has been closed off with the iron wall of exuberant data costs charged by South African firms with no shame.