This is not a review, but if it was to be one, I would discuss : The National Infrastructure Plan 2050 (published in 2022) which included a target that every household in South Africa should get at least 50 GB of data per month by 2025/26″ 

Before that, there was an earlier target to provide 10 GB data/month by 2023/24 to each household, which has already been missed.

The proposal was presented as a means to treat data like a basic utility (similar to water, electricity), with the idea that free basic data should be available to low-income users, and later modified and stated, include all households, regardless of income.

Now fast forward to 2025, the above promises haven’t been met, and no discussions with networks have led to any tangible outcome for the South African consumer.

On the focus of this article, I would like to draw attention to Telkom, a network that has long since been a house brand for many South Africans with or without trials and tribulations and  even more so before the transition and evolution of internet technology. In this day and age, for many young founders, access to reliable internet can be one of the biggest hurdles. Signing up with premium service providers like RSAWeb or committing to fibre isn’t always possible when you’re bootstrapping your business or live in a volatile area with ongoing network issues and cable theft, however, there are practical alternatives worth exploring, especially if your location falls within good Telkom coverage.

One option that stands out is Telkom’s 100GB Night Surfer Once-Off Data Bundle. At its core, this package gives you access to a large chunk of data at an affordable once-off price of around R130-150, valid for 31 days. Here’s why it works well for startups:

• Big Data Allocation: 100GB is a healthy amount for research, file transfers, updating business tools, or even hosting virtual meetings if you manage usage smartly.
• Night-time Productivity: The bundle is currently available between midnight and 7am, which helps night hustlers or teams working across time zones.
• Flexible Speeds: You can get up to 10Mbps between 1am and 5am, making it practical for most business activities. Though it may have lag issues here and there, should you be streaming, for work related admin, it hits just about the right notes.
• Easy to Buy: Available via USSD, the Telkom app, self-service portal, or in-store, it’s straightforward to activate. No fuss, no waiting time.
• Budget-Friendly: Once you run out, you can either buy another bundle, switch to an available one, or pay the out-of-bundle rate.

And while all the above key points might be attractive enough to consider, I want to extend a call to Telkom, here’s the thing: true night owls start working from 9pm. Many entrepreneurs find that their creative energy and uninterrupted focus kicks in after the evening wind-down, long before midnight.

And from a nostalgic nudge to Telkom: back in the day, Telkom landlines had reduced call rates from 8pm onwards, I am not entirely sure this happens via mobile as that market is fully occupied by whatsapp calls over wi-fi or data. For many South Africans, those off-peak hours were a lifeline, like when I’d spend late evenings on the phone with my mom while she was traveling out of the country because daytime rates were simply too high. It was affordable, accessible, and made connections possible.

That same principle applies today. Startups, freelancers, and side-hustlers would benefit greately if the Night Surfer bundle extended from 9pm to 6am. That small shift could open the door for many more founders to get their work done affordably, without waiting until midnight to start being productive.

And a Pro Tip to the young founders and future developers : While local goverment is mum around the subject of 50G per household and until such a time that these discussions become a reality, if you and your team are midnight warriors, this bundle is one of the smartest internet hacks to keep your startup lean while still getting things done.