Mobile networks have reported an increased use of their services - across the range - as South Africans wished each other merry Christmas and happy New Year.
Two of SA's largest networks - MTN and Cell C - reported increased uptake of voice, data and SMSes on Christmas day and New Year's Day when comparing 2014 and 2013 traffic. Vodacom declined to comment.
MTN SA's CTO, Eben Albertyn, says the operator - SA's second-largest - saw an encouraging increase on its network during the festive season.
Voice call traffic increased by around 100% on 25 December and by about 106% on the last day of the year, says Albertyn. He adds SMSes sent gained around 49% on Christmas day.
Meanwhile, notes Albertyn, data gained 60% on Christmas day, and around 78% on 31 December, and by 72% on New Year's Day.
"The growing data usage during this period is indicative that, though a large margin of MTN customers might still prefer traditional ways of communicating over the festive season, digital communication is also on the increase."
Cell C, however, notes voice only gained 7.1% year-on-year over the Christmas period, while data leapt 62%, and SMS lost 21%. The operator, SA's third-largest, notes voice gained 4.8% on New Year's Day, while data gained 57%, and SMS declined 22%.
Cell C adds SMS remains a popular means of communication in SA due to the number of feature phones still in circulation. Yet, compared to previous years, there has been a decline in SMS volumes, as more customers have access to affordable smartphones and data, and are using instant messaging services such as WhatsApp.
"We anticipate that this trend will continue as more and more messaging services become available."
Cell C has openly embraced over-the-top players, while MTN and Vodacom have warned that they are cannibalising the networks, and operators should find a way of working with such players to add to their top-lines.
Cell C is the only operator in SA to offer WhatsApp free of charge to contract and selected prepaid customers.
None of the networks reported any issues with congestion.
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