South African Voice Calls Under Threat from Data Shift and Surge in Spam Calls
The decline in traditional voice calls is largely driven by the adoption of internet-based platforms such as WhatsApp, which allow users to make calls over mobile data networks.
Voice calls in South Africa are increasingly under pressure as consumers shift toward data-based communication services and face a growing problem of unsolicited telemarketing.
The decline in traditional voice calls is largely driven by the adoption of internet-based platforms such as WhatsApp, which allow users to make calls over mobile data networks. The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa’s (ICASA) latest State of the ICT Sector report indicates that mobile voice service revenues have fallen by 5.65% over the past five years, with a 7.70% drop in 2024 alone. Meanwhile, mobile data revenue rose by 6.86%, reflecting the growing preference for data-centric services. Supporting this trend, BMI TechKnowledge’s (BMIT) Voice Services and UC&C report shows that revenue from voice services has declined by over R14 billion in four years.
Compounding the decline is what industry experts are calling a “spam call epidemic.” Unsolicited telemarketing calls have eroded consumer trust in traditional voice services, prompting many South Africans to rely on call-screening apps like Truecaller or avoid answering calls from unknown numbers. The Internet Service Providers’ Association (ISPA) describes the situation as a serious abuse of the national numbering plan, highlighting that some call centres are illegally using mobile number ranges, such as 082, 083, 072, and 073, from fixed premises. These mobile numbers are targeted because they are more likely to be answered than fixed-line numbers, creating widespread disruption.
ISPA has urged ICASA and the Information Regulator to take stronger enforcement action, warning that the continued abuse of mobile numbering threatens the integrity of South Africa’s telecommunications system. Responding to the concerns, ICASA reportedly confirmed to MyBroadband in May 2025 that it is investigating the trend of call centres operating from fixed premises using mobile numbers.
As South Africans increasingly rely on data-based services and regulators grapple with spam calls, traditional voice telephony faces both a structural decline and reputational challenge, signaling a major transformation in the country’s communication landscape.
