South Africa is moving toward a key connectivity deadline.
Major mobile operators must zero-rate digital services from eligible public benefit organisations. The deadline is 15 January 2027. Zero-rating means users can access selected websites without using paid mobile data.
The obligation applies to operators including MTN, Vodacom, and Cell C. It follows the 2022 spectrum auction run by ICASA. The rule formed part of the licence conditions linked to that auction.
This makes the issue more than a voluntary social programme. Operators already knew the requirement when they bid for spectrum. Expected lost data revenue was reportedly reflected in auction pricing.
However, implementation remains slow across the sector.
In a country with high data costs, the measure could matter greatly. It could help users reach education, healthcare, social services, and job information. It could also support early childhood development and youth employment programmes.
“Almost every home in South Africa has a mobile phone, but many in poor communities can’t afford the cost of data. This means the tools for stimulating socio-economic change are out of reach for millions of people in a country where barriers to connectivity and access to information and resources are a systemic choke which reinforces inequality,” explains David Harrison, CEO of the DGMT.
That argument resonates strongly in mobile-first markets. Many households rely on smartphones for essential digital access. Yet, affordability still limits practical use.
At the same time, operators face operational and financial realities. They must identify approved sites, apply network rules, and monitor usage. They also need clear regulatory guidance. Without standard processes, services may differ between networks.
Some movement has already taken place. RAIN has reportedly zero-rated at least two dozen organisations. Yet, only fifteen organisations have been zero-rated across major operators. Thousands may qualify.
“We are deeply concerned that with the deadline just months away, we’ve had no meaningful communication from most mobile network operators, or from ICASA, about how zero-rating will be implemented, regulated and enforced,” says Busisiwe Kabane-Bailey, Innovation Director at DGMT.
DGMT has tried to simplify the process. It operates the Social Innovation Register, known as SIR. The register checks public benefit organisation status and technical readiness. It gives operators one verified source for eligible applicants.
“Since going live, the SIR has processed more than 120 applications, demonstrating that much of the infrastructure needed to drive implementation at scale is already in place. What’s missing is engagement,” says Kabane-Bailey.
The policy also comes with public trust implications. South African consumers have long challenged mobile data prices. Operators have also disputed data expiry rules in court.
Zero-rating could therefore offer a timely reset. It gives networks a visible way to support inclusive connectivity. But delay could deepen frustration among users and civil society groups.
“We are calling on operators to use the existing systems to fast-track zero-rating before the deadline expires, and to urgently publish their implementation plans,” she concludes.
