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Zero-rating campaign progress
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2013-2018
DGMT has long been lobbying for zero-rating to bridge the digital divide. In 2013, DGMT commissioned a study to look at ways to reduce the cost of mobile data in South Africa as a means to contribute to socio-economic development. In 2018, DGMT made submissions to the Data Services Market Inquiry.
2020
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the government, through the national state of disaster, instructed mobile network operators (MNOs) to zero-rate the content of PBOs. Some complied, most under duress, and some only after they were threatened with legal action. The lessons learned during the pandemic reinforced the importance of digital access for education, particularly for children who could not attend classes in person. Zero-rating became a lifeline for students who needed access to learning material during lockdown. It also meant that vital health information was accessible to the broader public. During the pandemic, mobile network operators moved quickly to zero-rate. They demonstrated that it is possible to zero-rate with urgency.
2022
The disaster regulations have since been lifted but new legally binding rules compel mobile network operators to zero-rate the content of PBOs. The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) made zero-rating of government and public benefit organisation digital content a condition of licence for network operators that had bid successfully for more radio spectrum. This meant that users of these websites should have access to this digital content for free.
2023
DGMT launched a public campaign in the Sunday Times to raise awareness about the delays in implementing zero-rating, and with the support of more than 350 civil society organisations, we called on ICASA to make this issue a priority. Since then, ICASA has finalised outstanding licensing agreements with major MNOs, which in theory means there should not be further delays in zero-rating. With the licensing process finalised, the ball is now in the court of MNOs. But zero-rating was STILL NOT being implemented and enforced on a wide scale. So, we at DGMT, reached out to major MNOs to understand why these delays were continuing and launched a new campaign demanding that we not be "left on read". In the meantime, DGMT pushed ahead with the development of a Social Innovation Register. This is a streamlined platform for public benefit organisations to apply for zero-rating, where they can be vetted and can link to MNOs.
2024
We’ve been keeping up the pressure and thanks to your support, ICASA is taking action! In May, ICASA gazetted new regulations outlining the process that public benefit organisations must follow to apply for their mobile content to be zero-rated by mobile network operators who successful bid for spectrum licenses. This significant step has come after much lobbying and pressure from civil society. We’ve been keeping up the pressure and thanks to your support, ICASA is taking action!
