MTN signs agreement with Competition Commission on reduced, inclusive data pricing initiatives

MTN is pleased to announce the finalisation of its agreement with the Competition Commission on the wide array of voluntary price adjustments announced last month and implemented on 15 April. This agreement follows the Commission's Data Service Market Inquiry in December last year and subsequent negotiations between the commission and industry. Importantly, the agreement includes a key social compact commitment on free data for access to essential services, like education Web sites.

"We are pleased to have reached this agreement with the Competition Commission, as it is a further social commitment that MTN will continue to advance the significant measures already implemented over the past number of years, to drive financial inclusion and reduce data prices," says MTN SA CEO Godfrey Motsa.

MTN will continue to build on the initiatives already announced to ensure more people in all areas across the country can enjoy the benefits of a modern, connected life on South Africa's best network.

MTN's voluntary agreement with the Competition Commission covers:

* Retail price reductions for prepaid data customers;* Provision of a data lifeline allocation per day through the ayoba app;* Zero-rating of selected public benefit organisations; and* Greater customer transparency on individual data pricing and usage.

More details on the voluntary undertakings (including the specific retail price reductions as announced on 15 April) are contained in the editor's notes of this media statement.

In addition to the significant price reductions announced, MTN's mobile money solution, MoMo, has announced social media bundles offering extraordinary discounts and value.

On 8 April, MTN MoMo social bundles were introduced at some of the lowest-ever social media data bundle prices offered by MTN. This will see MTN customers use their positive MoMo cash balance to buy any of the five new bundles offered to suit their unique usage needs and budget. A 500MB day pass is currently available for just R8 and a seven-day 5GB pass for just R60. Currently, MTN is also waiving MoMo cash in service fees to assist customers during the current nationwide lockdown and has committed to continue finding creative ways to improve access to data for all South Africans into the future.

"We remain as committed as ever to consistently providing the best quality network, with accessible pricing and real value to all our customers," concludes Motsa.

MTN's undertakings with the Competition Commission take the form of a voluntary social compact and cover the following:

Price reductions:* All of MTN's sub-1GB 30-day data bundles (from R10 - R149) will be reduced by up to 50%.Free data:* A daily free 20MB allocation of data to all MTN customers to send pictures, messages, video and to browse the Internet, using the Ayoba app.Free access to public benefit Web sites:* The introduction of MTN OpenTime - free access to education, health and employment Web sites - of up to 500 unique sites that will be accessible without data charges.Tracking personal data usage and data spend:* Enhanced data usage and tariff information for all customers, to track usage and to inform customers of their data spending habits.

MTN's price reductions as from 15 April 2020:

The very popular monthly sub-1 Gigabyte category sees significant price reductions implemented on 15 April, while the monthly 20MB and 50MB bundles double in volume - from 20MB to 40MB and from 50MB to 100MB - without any change in price. Prices stay at R10 and R20 respectively, but for double the data.

Users of the popular 1GB bundle will enjoy a 34% price reduction, from R149 to just R99, while 1.5GB users can now stay in touch for R149, a drop of 21%. Users in the larger 50GB and 100GB ranges will also see significant savings, with prices dipping 25% and 29% respectively.

The new prices and volumes are detailed below: