Close Menu
TechCentralTechCentral

    Subscribe to the newsletter

    Get the best South African technology news and analysis delivered to your e-mail inbox every morning.

    Facebook X (Twitter) YouTube LinkedIn
    WhatsApp Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn YouTube
    TechCentralTechCentral
    • News
      Blu Label takes R5.2-billion Cell C hit, touts clean slate ahead

      Blu Label takes R5.2-billion Cell C hit, touts clean slate ahead

      19 February 2026
      MeerKAT detects most powerful natural radio laser ever observed

      MeerKAT detects most powerful natural radio laser ever observed

      19 February 2026
      How AI is rewriting the rules of consulting - Mark Allderman

      How AI is rewriting the rules of consulting

      19 February 2026
      Crackdown on students gambling away Nsfas money online

      Crackdown on students gambling away Nsfas money online

      19 February 2026
      Meta may launch AI-powered smartwatch in 2026

      Meta may launch AI-powered smartwatch in 2026

      19 February 2026
    • World
      Prominent Southern African journalist targeted with Predator spyware

      Prominent Southern African journalist targeted with Predator spyware

      18 February 2026
      More drama in Warner Bros tug of war

      More drama in Warner Bros tug of war

      17 February 2026
      Russia bans WhatsApp

      Russia bans WhatsApp

      12 February 2026
      EU regulators take aim at WhatsApp

      EU regulators take aim at WhatsApp

      9 February 2026
      Musk hits brakes on Mars mission

      Musk hits brakes on Mars mission

      9 February 2026
    • In-depth
      How liberalisation is rewiring South Africa's power sector

      How liberalisation is rewiring South Africa’s power sector

      21 January 2026
      The top-performing South African tech shares of 2025

      The top-performing South African tech shares of 2025

      12 January 2026
      Digital authoritarianism grows as African states normalise internet blackouts

      Digital authoritarianism grows as African states normalise internet blackouts

      19 December 2025
      TechCentral's South African Newsmakers of 2025

      TechCentral’s South African Newsmakers of 2025

      18 December 2025
      Black Friday goes digital in South Africa as online spending surges to record high

      Black Friday goes digital in South Africa as online spending surges to record high

      4 December 2025
    • TCS
      Watts & Wheels S1E4: 'We drive an electric Uber'

      Watts & Wheels S1E4: ‘We drive an electric Uber’

      10 February 2026
      TCS+ | How Cloud On Demand is helping SA businesses succeed in the cloud - Xhenia Rhode, Dion Kalicharan

      TCS+ | Cloud On Demand and Consnet: inside a real-world AWS partner success story

      30 January 2026
      Watts & Wheels S1E4: 'We drive an electric Uber'

      Watts & Wheels S1E3: ‘BYD’s Corolla Cross challenger’

      30 January 2026
      Watts & Wheels S1E4: 'We drive an electric Uber'

      Watts & Wheels S1E2: ‘China attacks, BMW digs in, Toyota’s sublime supercar’

      23 January 2026

      TCS+ | Why cybersecurity is becoming a competitive advantage for SA businesses

      20 January 2026
    • Opinion
      A million reasons monopolies don't work - Duncan McLeod

      A million reasons monopolies don’t work

      10 February 2026
      The author, Business Leadership South Africa CEO Busi Mavuso

      Eskom unbundling U-turn threatens to undo hard-won electricity gains

      9 February 2026
      South Africa's skills advantage is being overlooked at home - Richard Firth

      South Africa’s skills advantage is being overlooked at home

      29 January 2026
      Why Elon Musk's Starlink is a 'hard no' for me - Songezo Zibi

      Why Elon Musk’s Starlink is a ‘hard no’ for me

      26 January 2026
      A million reasons monopolies don't work - Duncan McLeod

      South Africa’s new fibre broadband battle

      20 January 2026
    • Company Hubs
      • Africa Data Centres
      • AfriGIS
      • Altron Digital Business
      • Altron Document Solutions
      • Altron Group
      • Arctic Wolf
      • AvertITD
      • Braintree
      • CallMiner
      • CambriLearn
      • CYBER1 Solutions
      • Digicloud Africa
      • Digimune
      • Domains.co.za
      • ESET
      • Euphoria Telecom
      • Incredible Business
      • iONLINE
      • IQbusiness
      • Iris Network Systems
      • LSD Open
      • Mitel
      • NEC XON
      • Netstar
      • Network Platforms
      • Next DLP
      • Ovations
      • Paracon
      • Paratus
      • Q-KON
      • SevenC
      • SkyWire
      • Solid8 Technologies
      • Telit Cinterion
      • Tenable
      • Vertiv
      • Videri Digital
      • Vodacom Business
      • Wipro
      • Workday
      • XLink
    • Sections
      • AI and machine learning
      • Banking
      • Broadcasting and Media
      • Cloud services
      • Contact centres and CX
      • Cryptocurrencies
      • Education and skills
      • Electronics and hardware
      • Energy and sustainability
      • Enterprise software
      • Financial services
      • Information security
      • Internet and connectivity
      • Internet of Things
      • Investment
      • IT services
      • Lifestyle
      • Motoring
      • Public sector
      • Retail and e-commerce
      • Satellite communications
      • Science
      • SMEs and start-ups
      • Social media
      • Talent and leadership
      • Telecoms
    • Events
    • Advertise
    TechCentralTechCentral
    Home » Sections » Internet and connectivity » TCS | Datafree’s plan to make R1-billion/year from ‘free data’
    TCS | Datafree's plan to make R1-billion/year from 'free data' - Kruben Pillay
    Kruben Pillay

    TCS | Datafree’s plan to make R1-billion/year from ‘free data’

    By TechCentral4 December 2024

    Datafree Technologies, the company behind popular zero-rated messaging tool MoyaApp, has an ambitious plan to build a R1-billion/year business by tapping to the APN market provided by the mobile operators.

    In this episode of the TechCentral Show (TCS), Datafree chief commercial officer Kruben Pillay tells Duncan McLeod about the company’s plan to build a software-as-a-service-based APN – or “access point name” – to sell to businesses. An APN is a gateway that allows a mobile device to connect to the network and the internet.

    Datafree describes itself as a specialist in “mobile data optimisation” that “identified the opportunity to empower inclusive mobile connection by removing the data cost barrier to engage mobile audiences”.

    To do this, it uses reverse-billing technology for data, not dissimilar to the way toll-free numbers work for phone calls.

    Although many people use (or are at least aware of) MoyaApp, much less is known about Datafree. In this episode of TCS, Pillay tells McLeod more about the business. He also unpacks:

    • His history in the telecommunications industry, including his time at Vodacom and Telkom;
    • How MoyaApp is doing;
    • Datafree’s R1-billion/year APN opportunity; and
    • How APNs work, why companies use them (and why they sometimes run into issues) and Datafree’s APN services for business.

    Don’t miss the interview!

    Listen to this episode of the TechCentral Show

    Subscribe for free

    To subscribe to any of TechCentral’s shows, including TCS, TCS+, Meet the CIO and TCS Legends, please use the links below:

    ShowPlatform
    TCSYouTubeSpotifyApplePocket CastsRSS
    TCS LegendsYouTubeSpotifyApplePocket CastsRSS
    TCS+YouTubeSpotifyApplePocket CastsRSS
    Meet the CIOYouTubeSpotifyApplePocket CastsRSS
    Watts & WheelsYouTubeSpotifyApplePocket CastsRSS

    Get breaking news from TechCentral on WhatsApp. Sign up here.

    Don’t miss:

    Moya, the South African app hoping to dethrone WhatsApp



    Datafree Datafree Technologies Moya Moya app MoyaApp TCS TechCentral Show Telkom Vodacom
    WhatsApp YouTube Follow on Google News Add as preferred source on Google
    Share. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp Telegram Email Copy Link
    Previous ArticleParatus Botswana announces new Botswana to Zambia fibre route
    Next Article Discovery Bank top among consumers: DataEQ

    Related Posts

    Icasa gears up for South Africa's next big spectrum auction - Tshiamo Maluleka-Disemelo

    Icasa gears up for South Africa’s next big spectrum auction

    17 February 2026
    Telkom tops 25 million mobile subscribers as data growth surges - Serame Taukobong

    Telkom tops 25 million mobile subscribers as data growth surges

    16 February 2026
    BCX CEO Jonas Bogoshi to retire after seven years at the helm

    BCX CEO Jonas Bogoshi to retire after seven years at the helm

    16 February 2026
    Company News
    Customers have new expectations. Is your CX ready? 1Stream

    Customers have new expectations. Is your CX ready?

    19 February 2026
    South Africa's cybersecurity challenge is not a tool problem - Nicholas Applewhite, Trinexia South Africa

    South Africa’s cybersecurity challenge is not a tool problem

    19 February 2026
    The quiet infrastructure powering AI: why long-life IOT networks matter more than ever - Sigfox South Africa

    The quiet infrastructure powering AI: why long-life IoT networks matter more than ever

    18 February 2026
    Opinion
    A million reasons monopolies don't work - Duncan McLeod

    A million reasons monopolies don’t work

    10 February 2026
    The author, Business Leadership South Africa CEO Busi Mavuso

    Eskom unbundling U-turn threatens to undo hard-won electricity gains

    9 February 2026
    South Africa's skills advantage is being overlooked at home - Richard Firth

    South Africa’s skills advantage is being overlooked at home

    29 January 2026

    Subscribe to Updates

    Get the best South African technology news and analysis delivered to your e-mail inbox every morning.

    Latest Posts
    Blu Label takes R5.2-billion Cell C hit, touts clean slate ahead

    Blu Label takes R5.2-billion Cell C hit, touts clean slate ahead

    19 February 2026
    MeerKAT detects most powerful natural radio laser ever observed

    MeerKAT detects most powerful natural radio laser ever observed

    19 February 2026
    How AI is rewriting the rules of consulting - Mark Allderman

    How AI is rewriting the rules of consulting

    19 February 2026
    Crackdown on students gambling away Nsfas money online

    Crackdown on students gambling away Nsfas money online

    19 February 2026
    © 2009 - 2026 NewsCentral Media
    • Cookie policy (ZA)
    • TechCentral – privacy and Popia

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

    Manage consent

    TechCentral uses cookies to enhance its offerings. Consenting to these technologies allows us to serve you better. Not consenting or withdrawing consent may adversely affect certain features and functions of the website.

    Functional Always active
    The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
    Preferences
    The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
    Statistics
    The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
    Marketing
    The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
    • Manage options
    • Manage services
    • Manage {vendor_count} vendors
    • Read more about these purposes
    View preferences
    • {title}
    • {title}
    • {title}