[18 October 2026] ICASA confirmed in Parliament on 13 October 2026 that it is receiving and processing applications for zero rating of mobile content and that succesful applications are being passed onto mobile network operators, who are implementing zero rating notwithstanding that the deadline for implementation is January 2027.

ICASA has already approved 51 applications –  32 from Public Benefit Organisations (PBOs) and 19 for government sites – received in accordance with the application process set out below.

An online portal to administer and manage implementation is expected to go live in November 2026.

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[9 May 2024] ICASA has published details of the process under which public benefit organisations (PBOs) – including government departments – can apply for assessment as to whether their mobile content must be zero-rated by the mobile network operators (MNOs).

Notice outlining the process for submitting applications for mobile content to be zero rated

The MNOs – Vodacom, MTN, rain, Telkom Mobile and Liquid Intelligent Technoligies* – are obliged to implement zero-rating of PBO mobile content as part of the conditions of the spectrum licences which they were awarded in March 2022. This must be implemented by 15 January 2027 – 36 months from 15 January 2024 (being the date on which spectrum licences were issued).

*Cell C returned spectrum awarded to it in the March 2022 spectrum auction

Application process

All applications must be directed to:

  • Licensing and Compliance Division, Block B, 350 Witch–Hazel Avenue, Eco Point Office Park, Eco Park, Centurion / Private Bag X10, Highveld Park, 0169 / zeroratingapplications@icasa.org.za

Applications must include the following information:

  • Applicant’s Name, email address and contact numbers
  • Proof of company registration, including proof that the entity is registered as a PBO with SARS (not applicable to government departments with .gov.za websites)
  • Motivation for the inclusion of the domain name on the zero-rating list (not exceeding 300 words) indicating its intent and proof of dedication to provide social goods and services
  • Sub type (i.e. relevant government department, for example, health or education) or sector in which the PBO operates (e.g. health, education, charity, etc)
  • Website title and URL
  • Static IPV 4 address and/or Static IPV 6 address (Cloudfare IP addresses /similar addressing resources will not be onboarded)
  • Ports, Server Name Indication (“SNI”) and location of hosting

Basic Rules

  • Any service for commercial gain will not be zero-rated.
  • Embedded content or embedded links will not be zero-rated.
  • Rich media content such as videos and streaming should be limited to a maximum of 480-pixel quality to protect network quality.
  • Content must be locally hosted within South Africa. Only South African hosted domain names will be zero-rated.
  • Licensees will receive approval notification within two (2) business days after approval of the application.
  • Post the implementation period, the zero-rating of the websites must be activated within fourteen (14) working days from the date that they were notified.
  • ICASA will annually audit listed PBOs to ensure compliance with PBO requirements.
  • Licensees may request ICASA to reconsider an approval where it can provide evidence that an entity no longer qualifies as an NPO.
  • Providers of content zero-rated under the COVID regulations must reapply under this process.

Managing abuse

  • Licensees are responsible for monitoring and detecting abuse of zero-rated websites and reporting this to ICASA. Supporting evidence of the blocked/removed domain names/individual users must be provided within two business days from detection to allow ICASA to investigate.
  • ICASA will share all reported cases within three (3) business days of receipt with all Licensees to ensure that the abuse is managed across all the networks.
  • To protect against abuse, users will be limited to 300 MB of daily data and a monthly cap of 2 GB per user.
  • Licensees may block or remove individual users/domains suspected of abusing the zero-rated websites:
    • Where any user is found to have exceeded a daily limit of 300 MB and a monthly cap of 2 GB; and
    • Where the Licensee is exposed to content:
      • Which poses a security threat; and
      • Where there is exploitative tunnelling or there are reasonable grounds to believe that illegitimate and/or abusive use of zero-rated websites is or could be taking place.
  • Suspension may be maintained until the security threat has been rectified and/or remedial action has been implemented.
  • Licensees may suspend the zero-rating of all content and charge normal data tariffs for this content in accordance with the subscribers’ tariff plan after suspending the abused zero-rated website.