Ramaphosa said the reduction in the cost of data was an important step “to improve lives, bring people into the digital economy and stimulate online businesses”.
“The competition authorities are now working towards a resolution with the large mobile operators to secure deep cuts to data prices across prepaid monthly bundles, additional discounts targeted at low income households, a free daily allocation of data and free access to educational and other public interest websites,” Ramaphosa said.
He said the digital economy would become a driver of growth and a creator of employment. But for this to succeed, Ramaphosa said there must be the availability of high demand spectrum to expand broadband access and reliability.
“The regulator, Icasa, has undertaken to conclude the licensing of high demand spectrum for industry via auction before the end of 2020,” Ramaphosa said.