Johannesburg – South Africa’s communications regulator is turning its attention to Netflix, WhatsApp and the country’s biggest telecommunications companies in a fresh push to tackle high communication and digital-service costs.
According to BusinessDay, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) plans to investigate the impact of over-the-top (OTT) services on consumers, while separately examining the cost of telecommunications services.
The OTT probe will cover services such as Netflix and WhatsApp, which have disrupted traditional broadcasting and communications markets. ICASA has said such services have changed the broadcasting landscape, forcing traditional broadcasters to compete for audiences and advertising revenue.
The regulator is also targeting the prices charged by major operators including MTN, Vodacom, Telkom and Cell C.
Previous reviews
Moneyweb reported that the telecommunications-cost inquiry will build on previous reviews of data services and measures introduced after the allocation of high-demand spectrum.
The move comes amid continued concerns that South Africans are paying too much for connectivity. A report by TechCentral said that ICASA’s latest affordability inquiry will examine concerns about the cost of voice and broadband services, particularly for low-income households, rural communities, young people and informal-sector workers.
BusinessDay reported that the regulator’s latest intervention follows the government’s growing frustration that the release of additional spectrum in 2022 has not produced the expected reduction in data prices.
The Department of Communications and Digital Technologies has separately sought telecommunications experts to identify measures to “address the high cost of communications in South Africa” and establish why previous interventions have failed to deliver more affordable services.
Growing influence
The issue is also being addressed through proposed legislative changes. Parliament’s Electronic Communications Amendment Bill of 2026 includes measures covering roaming, mobile virtual network operators, infrastructure sharing and wholesale pricing rules, with the stated aim of improving competition.
ICASA’s investigations could therefore have implications extending beyond traditional mobile operators, as regulators increasingly grapple with the growing influence of global digital platforms such as Netflix and WhatsApp.
ICASA is mandated to regulate South Africa’s telecommunications and broadcasting sectors, including licensing, consumer protection and monitoring compliance.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
