Parliament grills SA network providers over poor service

South Africa’s network provider CEOs faced tough questioning in Parliament on Friday, 13 June 2025, as Members of the Communications Committee criticised them for failing to prioritise poor and rural communities.

The MPs held the providers accountable for sub-standard service delivery and emphasised the committee’s goal of achieving universal connectivity across the country.

Parliament specifically questioned Vodacom, MTN, Cell C, Telkom, and Rain over poor network connectivity in rural areas and their continued enforcement of data and airtime expiry policies.

In response, the CEOs of these network providers told the committee they had made significant progress in expanding coverage across the country.

SA’S NETWORK PROVIDERS

At the centre of this furore is the fact the nearly 45% of South African residents need a smartphone with data access to verify their SASSA grants. Recent security updates to stave off fraud and identity theft from the South African Social Security Agency now requires a smartphone and data for biometric verification.

As such, the committee believes network providers can do more regarding the cost of data. And called for them to consider measures to further reduce the cost and prioritise rural connectivity, reports The Citizen. Attending MPs also keenly challenged the logic behind data and airtime expiry. Saying, “It’s purely capitalistic exploitation of consumers.

Data and airtime are not perishable goods. Therefore, their expiration is unjust and violates consumer rights,” said the committee.

LOAN SHARKS OF THE POOR

Another MP called South Africa’s network providers ‘loan sharks.’ “Instead of cutting data and airtime costs, they are advancing it,” said the MP. Likewise, the high salaries paid to CEOs of network providers was also called into question. Especially, in light of uplifting poor and rural communities. The committee meets with the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT) in the coming weeks to deliberate on its budget.

The committee also discussed the possibility of building a South African satellite. MTN CEO Charles Molapisi informed members that the company has partnered with non-terrestrial and satellite providers, including Starlink. Last month, South Africa moved closer to securing access to Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet service.

The DCDT published a policy directive around the Electronic Communications Act (ECA) that requires a minimum of 30% shares be in the hands of historically disadvantaged individuals. Many think this will pave the way for the service to enter the country, even though Elon Musk is not black or historically disadvantaged.