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Hi @Vodacom, your response is appreciated. Seeing as you& #39;ve decided to rewrite the reasons the price reductions came about, let me help you. Once we& #39;re done with that, I& #39;ll explain why an additional package of access is needed during the current Covid-19 outbreak. https://twitter.com/Vodacom/status/1246503966374006786">https://twitter.com/Vodacom/s...
Yes you reduced prices & offered a package of basic access, which is a step in the right direction, but it wasn& #39;t because you were "assisting the government". Public outcry led to government intervention & regulatory body processes, it wasn& #39;t a benevolent act by you @Vodacom
Now when the CompCom& #39;s provisional report was released, you dug your heels in. Not only that, in response to it you claimed that in addition to reducing OOB rates, you are fully complying with ICASA& #39;s EUSSC regulations which isn& #39;t quite true @Vodacom
You omit the fact that you tried to fight them; then tried to charge consumers to enjoy the benefits & then found a backhanded way to do this. All this to say that this wasn& #39;t about "assistance", otherwise these processes wouldn& #39;t have been needed in the first place @Vodacom
You were quite comfortable profiteering & pickpocketing the poor in a variety of ways. The data market services inquiry found that prices were anti-poor, among other findings. But you were the first to settle with the CompCom, now confirmed as an order by the Competition Tribunal
This is commendable & here& #39;s what you can do next to build on this. Across the world there is a recognition that the Covid-19 pandemic requires “all hands on deck”, if we are to pull through @Vodacom
We& #39;ve seen struggling media orgs making coronavirus-related content free to read to ensure that the public can stay informed. In other places internet service providers are offering free and heavily discounted internet services to keep people connected. @Vodacom
Locally DSTV has made its 24-hour news channels available online to all South Africans – even if you’re not a subscriber. These are just a few examples. We& #39;re inviting @Vodacom to also step up, because given that you exist in this society, you& #39;re also impacted by all this.
Given that physical distancing has been highlighted as a key way to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus. We& #39;re saying that MNOs like @Vodacom have a key role to play to ensure people are kept connected.
So over and above what you& #39;re already doing, provide free data to & 5 free SMSes per day to low-income consumers & zero-rate all local news sites for the 3 months, with a commitment to extend this for another 3 should the crisis continue @Vodacom
