New data regulations kicks in on 1 March 2019
Cell C implemented the changes in the Final Regulations published in May before the end of 2018 and customers will have already experienced the benefits of the new enhanced notifications service, the additional rollover facility and data transfer. Additional requirements announced by ICASA on 12 February – two weeks before the deadline - are under review.
On 1 March 2019, the company will be turning on the feature that prevents customers from making use of the out-of-bundle (OOB) facility for data, unless they opt into OOB usage. This is the most significant change that will have the widest impact on mobile consumers.
Customers can opt-in or set limits to OOB spend by using Cell C’s Spend Control service, which allows customers to completely manage their OOB usage whether it be for data, voice or SMS. Customers can opt-in on the Cell C App or via USSD. If customers opt-in before the 1 March deadline, they will not be asked to do so again.
Customers who don’t opt-in by the deadline may find themselves in a situation where they don’t have access to any data once their data bundle runs out – even if airtime is available or they are on an open contract. The amount of airtime they can access or amount they can choose for OOB data usage on their contract is tied to the rand value they assign to their OOB data limit using Spend Control.
For example, if a customer sets an OOB limit to R100, they can use up to R100 to continue using data once their bundle runs out.
“It’s up to customers to determine how their cell phone spend will work, according to their budget and in order to avoid running out of data. However, customers will need to opt-in to get the benefits of the Spend Control function and to make sure they are never without data, SMSes or call time when they need it the most,” says Cell C's chief customer experience officer, Michelle Beetar.
For additional information on how to activate any of the services linked with the regulatory changes, customers can go to the Cell C app, website or dial *147#.
