Cell C launches R33/GB data-only tariff

Cell C, which launched its third-generation (3G) mobile network in the Eastern Cape city of Port Elizabeth on Friday, is playing up its launch offering of two broadband modems with 24GB and 60GB data bundles.

But the company has also quietly introduced two new data-only products at prices that are significantly lower than the offerings that are bundled with modems and much cheaper than anything offered by rivals MTN and Vodacom.

The two products that Cell C is playing up cost R1 499 and R2 999 up-front for 2GB/month and 5GB/month of data respectively for a period of 12 months, all-inclusive. The more expensive offering has a 21Mbit/s modem. The cheaper product comes with a 7,2Mbit/s device.

But TechCentral has learnt that Cell C is also providing two data-only products for R999 and R1 999. They offer users the same bandwidth that’s available on the modem bundles, namely 24GB and 60GB, split up over 12 months.

On the high-end data-only product, that works out to as little as R33,33/GB, a fraction of the cost of data from rival mobile providers. This per-gigabyte rate is more comparable, in fact, to fixed-line broadband tariffs.

On the R999 data-only product, the effective per-gigabyte rate is R41,62. — Duncan McLeod, TechCentral

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http://www.satcomms.co.za Gavin

Wonder what will happen when their are thousands of users on at the same time?
http://securethink.blogspot.com Allen Baranov

Man,

What if you only want 1G?!

I would jump at paying even R50 for 1G of 3G but not interested in paying R1k for Internet and I don’t need a modem.
http://twitter.com/adielslarmie adiel

this is like the MWEB deal for DSL. Was waiting for the first move to happen in mobile broadband. This is VERY encouraging, but MTN & Vodacom will only respond in months. I’m happy with my speed & service from Vodacom (apparently their speeds are internationally comparable for mobile broadband) so just want them to give me a internationally comparable price
Steve

@adiel: Not quite like MWEB.

MWEB launched their offering nationally, while Cell-C’s product is only available in PE. At this point Cell-C refuses to even comment when and where the service will roll out next.

If you live in PE, you’ve got a great deal. For the 99.9% of other broadband users in South Africa, i.e. you and me, this deal means very little.
The Scarlet Pimpernel

@Steve: let’s not be so dismissive … we want better broadband but pooh-pooh any new initiatives? So we expect a super fast, super cheap network when we wake up in the morning, just in time for us to surf the daily news? Not bloody likely. We got to see how this plays out – it just might be the ticket. Or at least make Vodacom and MTN get off their complacent asses. Or you happy to pay those prices for sluggish mobile broadband?
Arno van der Walt

I really wish I knew people from PE to find out how they experience the service. I’m rooting for Cell-C as the MTN and Vodacom duopoly needs to be broken. If Cell-C does not make inroads I believe we will be hard pressed to ever see any significant competition in the mobile data space. So if you are complaining about high prices, you better start supporting the little guy, assuming they offer the service level you require.
The_Librarian

Ever since I’ve burnt my fingers with Vodacom, I’ve switched over to CellC – and so far the service I’ve been getting from them is OK.

Hope they increase speeds in Pta next
Mni

its a nice to know for me as well but has not yet been launched in my area. i am waiting because I really want to have proof that this is real then I will comment based on my experience. I wonder how does this really affect MTN and Vodacom pricing in the future, the winner is the customer at the end.
Good but bad

Its good to see the progress here but sad about the results,,,,

What is broadband if our international links are still bad….

Good going cell c but now lets get proper international speeds, thats were I use the internet not locally
Clarrification Required

This is rather misleading.

“two data-only products for R999 and R1 999. They offer users the same bandwidth that’s available on the modem bundles, namely 24GB and 60GB, split up over 12 months.”

I assume this mean that for a once off payment of R999 you get 24GB to use over 12 months (e.g.: 2GB a month). Normally pricing are quoted per month for a monthly quota.

However it looks like Cell-C is banking on reducing costs over the next 12 months (bandwidth deal with Eassy maybe?), so if they can get you to buy in bulk for the current price now, they’re probably hoping that when you finally use the bandwidth the cost to them will be significantly lower.
http://www.techcentral.co.za Editor

Hi Clarification Required: you are correct about the pricing. You may use up to 2GB/month on the 24GB package, over the 12-month period. Out of bundle rates apply for usage beyond 2GB a month. The OOB rate is 39c/MB.
Andrew

Now everybody just consider how they can provide these prices if Vodacom and MTN haven’t been ripping everybody off for years with their price fixing.

@Steve: I would like to see MWeb provide me with ADSL when Telkom wants over R400 just to activate a line that’s already installed. Until local loop unbundling is common place there is no such thing as a national launch. Cell C does not need to launch anything, they can just add equipment to existing towers and we can all use it.
Mielie

Hi,
This may seem like a stupid question, but I do not understand what I read on the Cell C website in the T&C’s. Quoted from cellc.co.za:
“The inclusive in and out of bundle tariffs only apply to local traffic. International
roaming is excluded.”
What exactly does this mean?
http://www.cellc.co.za Lars P Reichelt

When you roam abroad you will incur higher costs than the in-bundle or out-of-bundle costs advertised by Cell C – as you are roaming on a network that is not controlled by Cell C and where prices are governed by roaming agreements.

Hope that helps.
Mielie

Oh, ok! so it has nothing to do with which websites you visit then. That sounds pretty good. tnx @Lars P Reichelt

Cell C launches R33/GB data-only tariff

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