Vodacom and MTN have gone to court to challenge new rules from the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) on unused mobile data, The South African reported.
The rules deal with data that expires, data rollover, data transfers and out-of-bundle charges. ICASA said the aim is to give consumers stronger protection.
The regulator said it acted because consumers kept complaining. Many people lost prepaid data before they could use all of what they paid for.
ICASA’s 2026 changes propose that part of an unused bundle should roll over automatically. This would apply to bundles that last seven days or longer.
The changes would also let people send a bundle, or part of a bundle, to another SIM card on the same network.
ICASA said it was also worried about strict rollover conditions and surprise out-of-bundle charges. Under the new plan, consumers would get more protection when their bundles run out.
Network operators would also face clearer rules on how they must treat bundles that have not been used.
The new rules build on older ICASA consumer rules. Since 2018, those rules have let consumers roll over unused data and send data to users on the same network.
The 2018 rules also stop operators from charging out-of-bundle rates unless the customer agrees.
Earlier papers sent to ICASA show that operators were unhappy with forced longer validity periods. They also objected to wide rollover and transfer demands.
MTN argued that better information and more customer awareness could solve the problem of data expiry. Vodacom and other operators raised concerns about how longer validity periods would affect their business and operations.
ICASA documents show the regulator has worked on these issues for several years. Data expiry and out-of-bundle billing were already central to its earlier reviews.
Several MPs backed the new rules when Parliament met with ICASA. DA MP Kathrine Alexandra Christie criticised Vodacom and MTN for going to court.
EFF MP Muzi Khoza said stronger protection was needed. He said consumers should not lose the value of unused data or face surprise charges.
MK Party MP Sithembile Nkosi said cheap and reliable mobile data matters for poor households, jobless young people, students and small businesses.
BOSA MP Nobuntu Hlazo Webster said Parliament must make sure the needs of consumers and the wider economy are weighed alongside those of businesses.
Because of the court case, it is not yet clear when or how the new rules will take effect.
ICASA is also running a separate inquiry into the cost of telecommunications services in South Africa. It published a notice for this affordability inquiry on 30 September 2026.
The regulator said the inquiry will look at how affordable these services are. It will also consider possible regulatory or market steps.
Source: this article is based on reporting by The South African. Image: The South African. Written with the help of AI and published by the Tzaneen Voice Technology desk. See our Editorial Standards.
Werner Jacobs covers technology for Tzaneen Voice. Werner reports on mobile networks, data prices, internet access, smartphones, apps, AI, cybersecurity and South African tech companies. Each story explains what a new product, price change or policy means for ordinary users in South Africa.