Vodacom has announced significant reductions in data prices for prepaid customers, which will be effective from 19 September 2011. This follows similar data price reductions that were made for contract customers last month.

Customers buying MyMeg 100 will pay 39% less, with the price per MB reduced from 80c (for the previous MyMeg 110) to 49c. Customers who previously bought MyMeg 175 at a price of 68c per MB, will now pay 40c per MB for the MyMeg 250, a saving of 42% per MB. The average MB rate saving across all packages from MyMeg 10 to MyGig 1.5 is over 22%.  

In addition to the price reductions, Vodacom will run a ‘double your prepaid data’ promotion from 19 September to 31 October 2011. The promotion will give customers double data for the same price, when they purchase bigger bundles such as MyGig 1, MyGig 1.5, MyGig 2 and MyGig 2.5 prepaid and Top Up once-off bundles during the promotional period.

Speaking about these changes, Vodacom’s chief commercial officer Romeo Kumalo said: "Internet access isn’t just a nice to have; it’s an essential part of modern life. With these data price reductions, more customers than ever before will be able to benefit from internet connectivity."

The new data pricing is as follows (all incl. VAT):

In addition to the discounted values on data pricing, Vodacom offers prepaid customers services, including data bundle transfer, recurring prepaid bundles and data bundles for talking points.

Data bundle transfer provides customers the ability to purchase once-off data bundles and transfer them as gifts to family members and friends, who are on Vodacom prepaid or Top Up packages. Data bundle transfer can be found by dialling *111# and by accessing ‘MyAccount’ on the Vodacom portal.

Prepaid customers can also enjoy a recurring prepaid data bundle. The customer only has to opt-in once and ensure that there is sufficient airtime in his or her prepaid wallet. Vodacom will remind customers before the end of the month to ensure that there is sufficient airtime to purchase the nominated bundle on first of every month.

If the purchase is not successful due to insufficient funds, Vodacom will try again the following month. Customers can opt-in and opt-out by dialling *111#, SMS SUBS plus the bundle size (e.g. SUBS MyMeg 10) to 100, and from ‘MyAccount’ on the Vodacom portal.

Vodacom prepaid customers also benefit from Vodacom’s prepaid rewards programme where Talking Points are earned. Customers earn one Talking Point for every R10 recharge and no registration is required to redeem Talking Points.

Customers can redeem their points for data, SMS and MMS bundles as well as call discounts on Vodacom to Vodacom calls. The redemption channels include: dialling *111#, SMS TP to 31050, ‘MyAccount on’ the Vodacom portal, dialling 082 2411 082 and in-store.

For more information on the revised Broadband Standard products customers can go to the company’s website.

In related news Vodacom’s Business Services also recently announced a significant reduction in broadband prices for its Premium Business DSL offerings.