The Competition Commission will officially launch an investigation into why data costs are so high across South Africa’s “big four” networks.<\/p>\n
According to a report by BusinessDay<\/a>, economic development minister Ebrahim Patel has confirmed that\u00a0a market inquiry into the state of competition in the data market and the inquiry\u2019s terms of reference would be announced by 1 September 2017.<\/p>\n The commission will reportedly focus on how South African data prices benchmark internationally, how accessible data services are to the public, and whether\u00a0the market could be made into a more competitive and inclusive environment.<\/p>\n Patel said in a written reply to a parliamentary question by the DA\u2019s economic development spokesman, Michael Cardo, that much evidence suggested South African data costs were higher than they could be. This constituted an impediment to economic productivity.<\/p>\n As a result, Patel urged data suppliers not to await the inquiry\u2019s outcome but to reduce data costs on their own accord as soon as possible.<\/p>\n