South Africans using Telkom services will once again have to dig deep into their pockets
Image: Tracey Adams/Independent Newspapers
South Africans using Telkom services will once again have to dig deep into their pockets after the telecommunications giant announced that mobile and fixed-line tariffs will rise from April 1 2026.
Telkom said that the increases are necessary due to rising operational costs and ongoing investment required to maintain and improve network services.
"Telkom understands that price increases are never easy, and Telkom wants to assure our customers that we have done everything possible to minimize the impact on them. This change has been carefully considered and is necessary due to rising costs and the ongoing investment required to expand and improve our network".
The increases will apply to post-paid mobile voice plans, selected LTE bundles, roaming data plans, and certain SmartBroadband/LTE subscription fees.
"Effective from 1 April 2026, most mobile voice plans (FreeMe, Telkom FlexOn and Telkom Infinite as well as legacy post-paid tariffs), roaming data plans (Mobile Data and SmartInternet etc.), as well as certain SmartBroadband / LTE subscription fees of the tariff plan will be increased," Telkom said.
"An average price increase of 6.5% will be implemented across all mobile plans, although individual percentage between plans might differ".
The company confirmed that plan benefits, such as included voice minutes, SMS allowances, and data allocations, will remain unchanged, and that device installation fees and other recurring charges are not affected.
"No, Telkom only implements a price increase on the subscription fee of the tariff plan. All other recurring invoice fees will not be increased. These fees include (but not limited) to device installation fees and other Value-Added Services (VASs)".
Telkom will also raise fixed-line and fibre tariffs, with legacy voice products up 10%, current fixed-line plans up 6%, and fibre subscriptions increasing by 6%.
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