Consumers will now be able to roll over their unused data into the next month and can also transfer data to other users in the same network.

Service providers will be required to send notifications to their subscribers telling them when their data falls below 50%, 80% and 100%.

They also lose the right to automatically charge users out-of-bundle rates for extra data - now they can only do so if they have the individual consumer's consent first. "After the regulations are published, service providers will be given a month comply," the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) said today.