The Real Data Bae | The Cheapest Prepaid Mobile Internet Bundles Across South African Networks

• by STARTUP PICNIC
• 04/03/2015

South African mobile data internet providers have complex and tricky packages, thus making it difficult to determine which is the cheapest.

So here at Startup Picnic Magazine, we tried to break it down, tricky as it is (:-p), to help you select the cheapest. We know some folks who have SIM cards with all the different networks just to take advantage of any specials that can come up.

The rational is on which option gives you more data and value for money if your budget is limited to either, R50, R100, R150, R200, R250 or R300.

Criteria

• Fair internet speed was considered, not the fastest speed.
• Prepaid mobile internet data packages.
• Compared across Telkom Mobile (8ta), Vodacom, Cell C, Virgin Mobile, MTN, Afrihost and Neotel.
• Once off or month to month, wherein month to month packages can be terminated at any time.
• Usable at any time of the day.
• Does not expire in at least 30 days.
• Comparison excludes bonus airtime which expires within a specific time or bonus data which is only usable between certain times.
• The packages support either both data and voice or data only.
• Inclusive of 14% VAT.

 

R0 to R50

	R	GIG	per MB	WINNER
Telkom Mobile (within Telkom Mobile network only)	R    38,00	250	R   0,15	3
Telkom Mobile (other networks)	R    50,00	250	R   0,20	4
Vodacom	R    29,00	100	R   0,29	7
Cell C	R    19,00	100	R   0,19	6
Virgin Mobile	R    40,00	200	R   0,20	5
MTN	R    29,00	100	R   0,29	7
Afrihost	R    29,00	250	R   0,12	2
Neotel	R    49,00	2000	R   0,02	1

R50 plus to 100

	R	GIG	per MB	WINNER
Telkom Mobile (within Telkom Mobile network only)	R    69,00	500	R   0,14	4
Telkom Mobile (other networks)	R    95,00	500	R   0,19	6
Vodacom	R    99,00	500	R   0,20	7
Cell C	R    85,00	500	R   0,17	5
Virgin Mobile	R    80,00	512	R   0,16	3
MTN	R    99,00	500	R   0,20	7
Afrihost	R    99,00	1000	R   0,10	2
Neotel	R    89,00	4000	R   0,02	1

R100 plus to R150

	R	GIG	per MB	WINNER
Telkom Mobile (within Telkom Mobile network only)	R  149,00	1	R   0,15	3
Telkom Mobile (other networks)
Vodacom	R  149,00	1	R   0,15	3
Cell C	R  149,00	1	R   0,15	3
Virgin Mobile
MTN	R  149,00	1	R   0,15	3
Afrihost	R  145,00	2	R   0,07	2
Neotel	R  149,00	7	R   0,02	1

R150 plus to R200

	R	GIG	per MB	WINNER
Telkom Mobile (within Telkom Mobile network only)
Telkom Mobile (other networks)	R  180,00	1	R   0,18	4
Vodacom
Cell C	R  245,00	2	R   0,12	3
Virgin Mobile	R  175,00	1,5	R   0,12	2
MTN
Afrihost	R  197,00	3	R   0,07	1
Neotel

R200 plus to R250

	R	GIG	per MB	WINNER
Telkom Mobile (within Telkom Mobile network only)
Telkom Mobile (other networks)
Vodacom	R  249,00	2	R   0,12	1
Cell C
Virgin Mobile
MTN	R  245,00	2	R   0,12	1
Afrihost
Neotel

R250 plus to R300

	R	GIG	per MB	WINNER
Telkom Mobile (within Telkom Mobile network only)
Telkom Mobile (other networks)
Vodacom	R  299,00	3	R   0,10	2
Cell C	R  299,00	3	R   0,10	2
Virgin Mobile	R  300,00	3	R   0,10	2
MTN	R  299,00	3	R   0,10	2
Afrihost	R  297,00	5	R   0,06	1
Neotel

* EXTRAS

Telkom Mobile

• All recharges include a bonus airtime of purchase value if loaded on voice + data SIM, and expire in 7 days.
• The R149 2 +1 gig package includes free 1 gig usable between 00h00 and 7am.

MTN

• MTN R29 100 MB bundle has a bonus of 55 MB free, with 3 day giveback validity.
• MTN R99 500 MB bundle has a bonus R257 MB, with 5 day giveback validity.
• MTN R149 1 GB bundle has a bonus 1 gig, with 30 day giveback validity.
• MTN R245 2 gig bundle has a bonus of 2 gigs, with 30 day giveback validity.
• MTN R299 3 gig has a bonus of 3 gigs, with 30 day giveback validity.

*HACKS TO NOTE

Telkom Mobile

• There are 2 types of packages, those that work only within Telkom Mobile network covered areas, which are generally cheaper; and those that work with all the networks.

Afrihost

• Works with either an Afrihost SIM or MTN SIM.
• Afrihost SIM cards do not support voice services.
• Order modems from Afrihost or use any modem which either supports MTN or all networks.
• The topup Cost per GB is R99.
• Afrihost 3G mobile WIFI modem is R799 and LTE mobile modem is R1599.

Neotel

• Works with Neotel modems only. You can purchase NeoGo datacard for R549 NeoFlex Wi-fi dongle for R799.
• Does not support voice options.
• Available only in Pretoria, Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban.
• Check neotel.co.za to see if your area in the above mentioned areas has coverage.
• Connection is best if your area is close to Neotel fibre cables.

Chat with us via editor@startuppicnic.co.za

Do please correct us if you notice any error. Do please notify us if you know of any cheaper prepaid mobile data internet bundle.

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Compiled by Tiisetso Maloma and Nkeisi Bibi Matshuisa @ Startup Picnic Magazine

South African mobile data internet providers have complex and tricky packages, thus making it difficult to determine which is the cheapest. So here at Startup Picnic Magazine, we tried to break it down, tricky as it is (:-p), to help you select the cheapest. We know some folks who have SIM cards with all the…