Products and Services

Mobile voice

Mobile voice services are offered through contract and prepaid packages as well as community services.

Vodacom offers contract customers a range of mobile service packages including hybrid packages, which allow customers to contract for a specific level of airtime which can be topped-up with additional value by purchasing prepaid vouchers.

Vodacom offers various prepaid products such as Vodago, Smartstep and 4U. In 2008, Vodacom SA introduced Yebo4Less in South Africa, a prepaid tariff plan offering discounts to the base call rate depending on available network capacity at a specific location at different times of the day.

Voice services include outgoing and incoming calls, international roaming, interconnection and incoming visitor roaming.

Mobile messaging

Vodacom offers its customers mobile messaging services such as SMS, MMS, premium rate SMS (including USSD) and MMS, SVS, bulk SMS and MMS, and WAP services.

In 2000, Vodacom SA launched the USSD-based Please Call Me service, which enables a customer to send a free SMS requesting a call back. Vodacom SA now transmits approximately 20 million Please Call Me messages per day. The call back from the recipient generates revenue for Vodacom. The Please Call Me messages also provide media space that can be sold to advertisers.

In October 2008, Vodacom SA launched SVS (short voice service), which allows users to send and receive voice messages up to 30 seconds long. Within two months more than 1.6 million customers had used this service. SVS provides customers with the flexibility of communicating in their preferred language and does not require sophisticated handsets or complex downloads.

Broadband data and connectivity

Vodacom offers broadband connectivity and internet access services using various technologies such as GPRS, EDGE, 3G, HSDPA, HSUPA, WiFi, WiMAX and VSAT.

In December 2004, Vodacom SA was the first operator to introduce a commercial 3G product in South Africa. The number of active 3G/HSDPA handsets on the local network as at 31 March 2009 was 2.8 million. In June 2008, Vodacom launched its Mobile Internet offering.

In April 2009, Vodacom SA launched Broadband Standard and Broadband Advanced, allowing data bundle carry over for up to a maximum of 60 days for all customers irrespective of the data bundle (Standard or Advanced) chosen. Vodacom’s existing internet rates are now standard with HSDPA 3.6 as well as HSUPA (device dependent). Broadband Advanced offers the same in-bundle and out-of-bundle rates and includes HSDPA 7.2 with HSUPA for free.

Converged ICT services

Vodacom Business was launched in February 2008 and offers a total communications service portfolio to corporate customers. Vodacom Business services include next generation IP voice, managed networks and infrastructure, internet access, hosting and storage.

In the consumer market, Vodacom is extending its service offerings to other converged areas, including social networking, financial services, digital publishing, gaming, video on demand, music and telemetry services.

Mobile advertising has evolved into an important mass media channel, with more mobile phones in the world than the combined number of televisions and personal computers. Vodacom Mobile Media was launched in the 2008 financial year.

Equipment sales

Vodacom sells handsets and other telecommunications equipment and accessories. We are part of the Vodafone Group’s ultra low price handset initiative, and supplied handsets in South Africa at less than $20.