JOHANNESBURG - In a first for South Africa, wireless operator, Vodacom announced that sales for data surpassed that of voice calls as more South Africans are switching to internet enabled phones.
With the prices of data in the country being a hot topic this is a significant announcement in the communications industry, while mobile operators compete against each other.
Vodacom is the biggest wireless operator in South Africa by market value and the operating giant said that this recent boost was assisted by promotions, adding new customers in SA and as well as international markets such as Tanzania.
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Accounting for 43% of Vodacom’s revenue service, first half data sales was bolstered by 15% to R11.4bn ($792 million), according to Bloomberg.
Chief Executive Officer, Shameel Joosub, told Bloomberg reporters, “We expect that data contribution in our international markets could surpass that of voice in the next five years or so.”
It has been reported that Vodacom has about 40 million customers in a country with population of about 56 million.