South Africa’s Mobile Data Demand Soars with Users Hitting Record Consumption Levels

In a recent surge that highlights both technological adoption and the expanding digital culture in South Africa, the country’s mobile data usage has reached unprecedented levels. In 2024, some of the highest data users on South Africa’s mobile networks reported usage that not just stretches the imagination but also the capabilities of current mobile technology infrastructure.

Vodacom, South Africa's largest mobile network operator, has disclosed an impressive 32.4% increase in mobile data traffic during the six months ending on September 30, 2024. According to the latest data, Vodacom’s top data consumer under their Home Internet TopUp plan used an astonishing 16,100GB (approximately 16.1TB) over six months, averaging about 2,680GB (approximately 2.68TB) each month. This figure outpaces the previous year’s top consumption metrics by over 11%.

This rampant increase in data usage aligns with the sharp increase in internet-connected devices and the adoption of higher bandwidth-capable technologies like 4G and 5G, which Vodacom reported grew by 7.9%, reaching 23.9 million devices. This has unequivocally contributed to the 26.9% spike in the average data usage per smart device, now at about 4.7GB per month.

Switching focus to Telkom, the second biggest consumer of mobile data closely trails Vodacom’s top user. With the use of their Unlimited 4G packages, Telkom’s leading consumer chalked up an average of 2.44TB per month. The offerings from Telkom indicate a competitive market with plans aimed at heavy data users that do not throttle internet speeds significantly.

The rapid growth in data usage is also reflected in how South African mobile networks strategize their service offerings. For example, Vodacom, while not offering uncapped internet directly, has structured their Home Internet TopUp packages to provide substantial amounts of data at competitive pricing points, such as a 2,000GB monthly plan for a reasonable R549.

Elaborating further on consumer behavior, popular online applications such as WhatsApp, TikTok, and Facebook continue to be the major drivers of data traffic, particularly noted by Cell C in their report. These platforms, integral to digital communication and social interaction, underline the ongoing trends in digital content consumption, especially video streaming.

In terms of market dynamics, whereas MTN has opted for confidentiality regarding their individual customer data usage citing competitive reasons, their disclosure about high consumption on fixed plans like MyMTN Home Wi-Fi aligns with the general trend towards increased data demands spurred on by video content.

As South Africa continues to push the boundaries of mobile data usage, network providers are likely to keep innovating in their data plan structures and technology deployments, ensuring that the demands of the country’s heavy data users are met simultaneously promoting digital inclusion for all tiers of data consumers.