MTN South Africa Announces Postpaid Price Increases To Enhance Network Resilience. MTN South Africa today announced price increases for postpaid contracts that will take effect from 1 February 2024. The price increases come at a time when the company continues to invest in network resilience to ensure that its customers enjoy a high quality network experience, despite continued national power cuts, ongoing crime at sites and a weaker Rand against the dollar.
The adjustment encompasses an average increase of 4.3% on customers’ total monthly bills (which include all elements such as insurance, device fees, out of bundle spend, itemised billing etc). According to Monetary Policy Committee statement of November 2023, the South African Reserve Bank forecasts headline inflation of 5.0% in 2024.
“In recent years, demand for data services has grown exponentially, placing greater strain on telecoms networks. At the same time as investing to improve our extensive network infrastructure, we have had to contend with the escalating costs of ensuring resilience during loadshedding, inflationary pressure and more instances of battery theft and site vandalism,” said MTN SA Chief Commercial Officer, Ernst Fonternel.
“The price adjustment will enable us to enhance our network resilience to ensure that our customers experience improved network stability and reliability.” Out of bundle voice rates will increase by R0.11 on average, while out of bundle data rates increase by only R0.04 per MB. Subscription fees will increase by an average of 8.8%. Device fees, insurance premiums, and add-on voice / data bundle prices will remain unchanged.
Since the end of 2022, MTN South Africa has been running an intensive network resilience programme to enhance and strengthen its network, particularly to counter the effects of consistent power cuts, along with thefts from network sites. By the end of Q1 2024, MTN will have invested R4-5 billion in the network to ensure best-in-class service.
Launched in 1994, MTN South Africa is a subsidiary of MTN Group, a leading emerging market operator with a clear vision to lead the delivery of a bold new digital world to its customers.
