As per the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa’s (ICASA) new regulations pertaining to out-of-bundle (OOB) data billing, Vodacom will be implementing changes to its OOB data rules from 1 March 2019. These changes will affect Prepaid, Hybrid (Top-Up) and Postpaid (Contract) customers, with the aim of preventing bill shock related to out-of-bundle data costs for customers.

Vodacom customers are urged to take note of the new data rules which will include:

Usage notifications via SMS:
These notifications have already been implemented, and entail Vodacom sending usage depletion notifications via SMS, push notification or any applicable means to end-users when their usage reaches 50%, 80% and 100% depletion. These SMSs will include data bundle offerings that the customer can purchase. The proposed data bundles will typically be at a reduced rate.

OOB Default Blocking:
This enables data usage to be suspended at a predetermined point, and the OOB data rates to be prohibited. Hybrid (Top Up) and Postpaid (Contract) customers will automatically be opted into the OOB Data Limit Lock from 1 March. A limit is set to R0 once a bundle is depleted, which means that the customer will be cut off from using mobile data until they purchase another data bundle. Prepaid customers using Anytime, URL, Night Owl or time-based data bundles will be opted into the OOB data limit lock service and their limit set to R0.

Data Rollover:
From 1 March, Vodacom will allow customers to roll over unused data before its expiry date. In the event of unused data being rolled over, Vodacom will in the first instance apply data usage against the rolled over data until that data is fully depleted, and thereafter against the newly allocated data.

Data Transfer:
All Prepaid, Hybrid (Top Up) and Postpaid (Contract) customers will be able to transfer an unlimited amount of once-off and recurring data bundles that are about to expire, giving them a new 7-day expiry validity from the date of transfer. Hourly, daily and promotional bundles are excluded from data transfer.

Data Transfer Terms and Conditions:
1.  Data Transfer will be applicable to Prepaid, Hybrid and Post-paid subscribers.
2.  Transfer of Data bundles will be applicable to all once-off & recurring data bundles.
3.  Only a customer that is the Master Account Holder can transfer a data bundle
4.  Transfer of Data bundles will be applicable within the following payment types:
–  Post-paid customers can only transfer Data to Post-paid and Hybrid customers
–  Hybrid customers can only transfer Data to Hybrid and Post-paid customers
–  Prepaid customers can only transfer Data to Prepaid customers
–  Customers on NXT LVL price plans can only share Data with Customers on NXT LVL price plans
*  NXT LVL Prepaid customers can only share Data with NXT LVL Prepaid customers
*  NXT LVL Hybrid customers can only share Data with NXT LVL Hybrid customers
–  Customers on Mobile Broadband data price plans can only share Data with Customers on Mobile Broadband data price plans
*  Mobile Broadband data price Hybrid customers can only share Data with Mobile Broadband data price Hybrid and Mobile Broadband data price Post-paid customers
*  Mobile Broadband data price Post-paid customers can only share Data with Mobile Broadband data price Hybrid and Mobile Broadband data price Post-paid customers

5.  The transfer of data bundles with validity greater than 1 day will be based on the bundle size. The following charges will be applicable to these bundles:

*Only applicable from 9 March 2019

6.  A Sharing Subscriber can allocate Data bundles to a receiving MSISDN/s only within a pre-set parameter of bundle sizes. The pre-defined allocation bundle sizes will be as follows:

7.  The charge of transfer to Sharing Customers will be billed as follows:
–  Prepaid and Hybrid: Cost will be deducted from airtime
–  Post-paid: Cost will be added to bill
8.  Data Bundles can only be transferred on a set number of days before expiry:
–  Bundles with validities greater than 1 day and less than or equal 29 days can only be transferred 3 days or less prior to expiry
–  Bundles with validities greater than 29 days can only transferred 5 days or less prior to expiry
9.  The sharing subscriber will have the ability to link up to 5 MSISDN/s. The sharing subscriber will only be able to link/de-link the Receiving MSISDN/s that they can allocate every 30 days
10.  There is no limit to the number of times a Sharing customer can allocate bundles to receiving customers
–  All allocated Weekend bundles given to the receiving MSISDN/s will be valid for one weekend
–  All allocated data bundles with a validity greater than 24 hours given to the receiving MSISDN/s will be valid for 7 days
11.  The allocated bundle given to the receiving MSISDN/s cannot be further transferred to someone else.
12.  The allocated bundle given to the receiving MSISDN/s cannot be Rolled over
13.  The channels that a customer can use to transfer data is:
–  USSD (*135#)
14.  In the cases where URL based bundles are transferred, the receiving customer is required to have access to the relevant applications to be able to use the URL based data bundle received.
15.  Vodacom reserves the right to amend these terms and conditions and where such change is material, Vodacom will notify its customers of such amendment(s) before they come into force.
16.  Vodacom reserves the right to suspend the service in the event of suspected abuse where non-compliant devices (as specified by the regulating body, ICASA) are being used on the Vodacom network.

Out of Bundle Limit Lock:
The Out-of-Bundle Data Limit Lock service allows you to take control of your out-of-bundle data spend and set a Rand limit on what you want to spend on out-of-bundle data charges.

Out Of Bundle Limit Lock Terms and Conditions:
1.  The Out-of-Bundle Data Limit Lock service is available to Prepaid, Hybrid and Postpaid Vodacom customers.
2.  On the 1st of March 2019, all Vodacom all data-engaged customers will automatically be opted into the Data Limit Lock service, with their out-of-bundle spend limit set to R0. They will then be able to either opt out of the service or increase their limit. By opting out of the data limit lock service, you consent to be charged the applicable out-of-bundle rate.
3.  For Pre-paid customers who have been default opted in to the Data Limit Lock service with their limit set to R0 implicitly by Vodacom – when their data bundle expires and they don’t have any remaining data bundles, the customer will be defaulted into out of bundle rates. With the exception of the following scenarios:
–  Customer has a recurring bundle which they deplete, and purchases a short validity bundle. In the event that the short validity bundle expires the customer should be defaulted to out of bundles rates. Subsequently on the allocation of the next recurring bundle, once depleted the customer should not be defaulted into out of bundle rates
–  Customer has purchased a data bundle together with a Night Owl/URL bundle (a bundles that cannot be utilized/depleted for any usage but has specific conditions). In the event that the data bundle expires and the special bundles i.e. Night Owl/URL bundles cannot be used then the customer should be defaulted to out of bundles rates. In the event that the customer is able to utilize the special bundle and that bundle is depleted then the customers should not be defaulted to out of bundle rates.
4.  You will receive an SMS notification when you reach your out-of-bundle data limit.
5.  Once you reach the limit you have set for out-of-bundle data spend; your data usage will be paused and you will not be able to use data until you perform one of the actions stipulated below.
6.  In order to continue using data after your data usage has been paused, you will need to either:
–  Purchase a data bundle and continue using in-bundle data
–  Consent to be charged the applicable out-of-bundle rate by opting out of the Out-of-Bundle Data Limit Lock service and continue using out-of-bundle data
–  Increase your out-of-bundle data limit and continue using out-of-bundle data
–  Opt Into the Data Refill service, which will automatically allocate a 10MB bundle valid for 3 days at R3 every time your data bundles deplete
7.  Your out-of-bundle data limit will be included in your Call Limit Lock and cannot be more than your Call Limit Lock.
8.  You can manage the Out-of-Bundle Data Limit Lock service via the following channels:
–  USSD ( *135#)
9.  You can opt into and out of the Out-of-Bundle Data Limit Lock service at any point in time, multiple times per day.
10.  Both Master Account Holders and linked numbers will be able to set the out-of-bundle data limit for each line.
11.  You will still be able to use websites and apps that are free on the Vodacom network when your out-of-bundle data usage has been paused due to you having reached your out-of-bundle data limit.
12.  Once opted into the Out-of-Bundle Data Limit Lock service, you will remain opted in until you opt out. The service will not automatically opt out at the end of the month.
13.  Once you have opted out of the Out-of-Bundle Data Limit Lock service, it will be deactivated until you opt back in. You will not be automatically opted in at the end of the month.
14.  The out-of-bundle data limit that you have set last will remain until you change it. It will not reset at the end of the month.
15.  The Out-of-Bundle Data Limit Lock service does not have its own associated out-of-bundle data rate. You will be charged at the out-of-bundle data rate applicable to your price plan when using out-of-bundle data.
16.  The Out-of-Bundle Data Limit Lock service does not apply to data usage while roaming.
17.  Vodacom reserves the right to amend these terms and conditions and where such change is material, Vodacom will notify its customers of such amendment(s) before they come into force.

For any queries related to Vodacom’s new OOB data rules, customers can contact Vodacom via their new Customer Care number, by dialling 135 from their cellphone, or by keeping an eye on the Vodacom App and new functionalities. Businesses that have questions can also contact Vodacom on 082 1940.