Pretoria - Data calls could be reduced by 2.1 percent if Telkom's tariff adjustments are approved by the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa).
This after the communications company filed its tariff adjustments with the Authority on Friday.
The company said there will be no changes to its monthly Digital Symmetrical Line (DSL) and Do Broadband subscriptions, monthly internet subscription charges, outgoing mobile calls, post paid local and long distance calls as well as monthly subscription for Closer 2, 3, 4 and 5 .
"Data tariffs will drop by 2.1 percent overall in terms of the Company's proposed new tariffs that were filed with the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa)," said the company in a statement.
"However, Telkom has decided to file an overall increase of only 0.8 percent in the interests of customer-centricity as well as our commitment to the process of ensuring affordable telecommunications access in the country," said Telkom MD Nombulelo Moholi.
According to Icasa's Price Control Formula, the overall increase for Telkom's products is 19.3 percent.
The new tariffs which are subject to Icasa's approval will become effective as of 1 August this year.
Outgoing mobile calls as well as calls to Neotel and other licensed operators will remain unchanged while the unit charge of public payphones will stay unadjusted at 50 cents.
The PrepaidFone local as well as long distance calls increase overall by 4.5 percent while the surcharge for PrepaidFone Waya-Waya will increase by five cents.
Rates on international fixed line outgoing calls to some destinations like the UK, USA, Australia and China will either decrease or will remain as is.
Effectively, the overall adjustment for international calls will be 0 percent but tariffs to certain destinations like Zimbabwe and Namibia will increase, said Moholi.
"In our drive to make telecommunications more affordable and accessible, while aligning tariffs with costs as well as our endeavour to defend and grow our business, I believe that we have, in general, managed to contain upward tariff adjustments fairly adequately.
"Having complied with all regulatory prescriptions, Telkom is confident that our proposed price changes will be approved by Icasa," said Moholi.