South Africa’s government has just over five months left to fulfil a bold promise: providing every household with at least 50GB of data per month, a goal set under the National Infrastructure Plan 2050.
The plan, unveiled in March 2022 by former public works minister Patricia de Lille, outlined that by the 2025/26 financial year, which runs until 28 February 2026, homes across the country would receive a minimum of 50GB monthly.
This target followed an earlier milestone of 10GB per household by 2023/24, a deadline that has already passed unmet. The policy documents even suggested that free basic data could be considered a new utility, comparable to water and electricity.
Former communications minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni stressed this point during a State of the Nation debate in February 2022. ‘Data has become a new utility like water and electricity that our home needs,’ she said.
‘Whether you are rich or poor, whether you are employed or unemployed, every household will have access to 10GB per month,’ she promised.
Yet, despite the ambitious pledge, there has been little visible progress. As highlighted in reporting by MyBroadband, government has not provided details on how households would receive this data or how the initiative would be financed.
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In 2022, Ntshavheni confirmed her department had asked the National Treasury to create a Broadband Fund to subsidise household connectivity and support the rollout of public Wi-Fi hotspots, particularly in low-income and rural communities. The National Infrastructure Plan also envisioned private partnerships through blended finance arrangements and procurement rules to drive long-term digital expansion.
Telecom operators, however, have expressed concerns about the feasibility of the initiative. MTN told MyBroadband it was unclear ‘how the process will work and who will fund the 10GB monthly,’ though the company signaled willingness to cooperate in narrowing the digital divide.
Cell C, meanwhile, emphasised the need for proper consultation, pointing out that no regulatory or policy frameworks had been set in motion. The operator flagged sustainability as a pressing issue, warning that the cost implications could be especially challenging for smaller players.
‘Cell C awaits the commencement of these processes, which normally include stakeholder consultations and processes that allow for affected parties to highlight relevant concerns,’ the mobile telecommunications operator said.
With the deadline fast approaching, South Africa finds itself at a crossroads; either deliver on a promise that positions data as a basic utility, or risk deepening frustration among citizens who were told that digital access would become a guaranteed right.
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