Data cost probe on the cards

Economic Development Minister Ebrahim Patel. Picture: Chris Collingridge

Economic Development Minister Ebrahim Patel. Picture: Chris Collingridge

Published May 25, 2017

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Cape Town - Economic Development Minister Ebrahim Patel announced on Thursday

in Parliament that the Competition Commission will launch a market inquiry into

high data costs.

Patel told journalist ahead of his Budget vote speech

that the inquiry by the Competition Commission has been necessitated by the

high data costs.

The telecommunications industry has been under pressure

from last year after calls for a reduction in the costs of data in the country.

The portfolio committee on telecommunications and postal

services also conducted public hearings in Parliament on high data costs last

year.

Patel did not give details on when he will approach the

Competition Commission to investigate data costs.

“I will be making a request to the Competition Commission

to launch an inquiry into high costs of data,” said Patel.

Early this week Patel said in a written Parliamentary

reply he was going to address the issue of competition in the telecommunications

industry.

This followed the decision of the Competition Commission

not to prosecute MTN and Vodacom for anti-competitive behaviour last month.

Read also:  'Data disappearance does not exist'

This happened after Cell C lodged a complaint with the

Competition Commission in October 2013 against the two mobile operators, alleging

that they were involved in anti-competitive behaviour.

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