Data continues to be expensive in South Africa. As a result, internet users are always on the lookout for the best data deals they can find. Some of our readers frequently ask, “How to get free data?” After doing some research, we have an answer to that question: You can get free data through Afrihost’s Air Mobile.

Air Mobile, a mobile virtual network which runs on MTN’s Bozza network, offers 1 GB of free data to its clients every month. All one needs is an MTN sim card. Details on how to register as a client are provided on the network’s web page.

Several publications reported in the past that new Air Mobile clients get the free data only for the first three months. However, our cellphone number has received the free 1 GB since May 2023 (Total received = 6 GB). Air Mobile confirmed through its Facebook page that the promotion does not end after three months. Nonetheless, it is unclear how long it will last.

In addition to the free data, Air Mobile also offers relatively affordable prepaid data bundles, all of which have a validity period of at least 60 days. At the time of this writing, their non-promotional prices for 1 GB, 5 GB and 10 GB were R30, R100 and R150, respectively. Considering how much 1 GB used to cost 10 years ago (R149 – R180), it may be safe to say data prices have fallen. However, it is difficult to feel this due to the high cost of living and the fact that modern phones and web services tend to guzzle data like there is no tomorrow.

Nonetheless, Air Mobile’s prepaid data packages are not necessarily always the cheapest. Other mobile networks, although their standard data bundles are usually more expensive, frequently offer promotions through their apps. For example, it is common for MTN to offer 10 GB anytime + 10 GB night data for R149 through their app. We have also seen Vodacom selling 10 GB for R140 and 15 GB for R154 through their VodaPay app. Therefore, if you want to spend less on data, it helps to have multiple sim cards. That way you can explore what each network has to offer before deciding which data bundle to purchase.