This archive report was first published on 9 July 2019.
On July 9, 2019, South Africa-based Vodacom Group, a major shareholder in Safaricom, announced new charges that will apply to the company's business associates and subsidiaries operating in different markets across Africa.
The decision to lower data prices was informed by a mix of regulatory and competitive pressures, according to Vodacom.
Kenya had the largest price cut, followed by the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) with 29.2%, Lesotho 28.9%, South Africa 23.3%, and Tanzania 13.8%.
Safaricom has been facing intense competition from Airtel Kenya and Telkom Kenya in the local data market amid rising demand for data and internet services in the country.
As of December 2017, internet access in Kenya had hit 89.4%, according to the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) report.
"In the context of our commitment to drive digital inclusion, and given the tough consumer environment, we recognise the imperative to further lower data prices in some of our markets," Vodacom said in a statement.
