HANDS-ON Experience Learning
LESSONS FROM ZERO-RATED WEBSITES
OPPORTUNITY
2
FEBRUARY 2023
Release the systemic chokes on innovation that are perpetuated by exclusion
LESSONS FROM ZERO-RATED WEBSITES: PUTTING THE USER FIRST
Zero-rating means that a user can access a specific website for free. Civil society organisations (CSOs) know that having their digital content zero-rated is a major advantage because zero-rating democratises access to information and resources online. But the zero-rating1 advantage can only be fully realised once CSOs meet the needs of their target audiences. This means that audiences must know where to find free resources and feel comfortable using them. This learning brief looks at the experience of three zero-rated websites (CareUp, OLICO and Zibuza) to discover how they became more accessible, more user-friendly and better known.
Prepaid data is unaffordable to most South Africans. Yet, if they had access to the information and services offered on mobile platforms, it would improve their quality of life and grow our economy. Since 2016, DGMT has proposed that the zerorating of mobile services and content, offered by registered public benefit organisations (PBOs) and government entities promoting socio-economic development, should be managed through a Social Innovation Register (SIR). The SIR would allow approved PBOs to provide Internet users with free mobile data access to their online services.
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DID YOU KNOW? Zero-rating of the digital content of public benefit organisations and government websites is now a condition of licence for network operators. However, the mechanism to facilitate this is not yet in place and DGMT is working with the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) and the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies to make this happen urgently.
Typically, zero-rating is the process of providing subsidised digital content and/ or access to the Internet at no charge to the user. One of its key objectives is to increase access to online information and resources for users who cannot afford the cost of data. For more about zero-rating in South Africa, visit: https://dgmt. co.za/zero-rating-mobile-services/
RELEASE THE SYSTEMIC CHOKES ON INNOVATION THAT ARE PERPETUATED BY EXCLUSION
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