South African telecommunications services provider Telkom has announced the availability of its Reverse Bill URL services aimed at students.

The company says the service enables universities to allow free access to academic content for students, even if they run out of data or airtime, and is being introduced to assist students who will need data to access material that academic institutions have made available online because of disruption to the academic year.

"Telkom's Reverse Bill URL service allows students using a Telkom mobile prepaid or postpaid SIM card to access content on a university website without paying for data consumption. Students accessing academic material via Telkom ISP will also benefit from free data as Telkom already zero rates this traffic," reads a statement from Telkom SA.

Under normal circumstances, mobile data usage would then be reverse billed back to the institution – similar to the reverse-charges phone calls of previous years, according to the telco.

"During this critical period, Telkom has taken a decision to waive the data consumption costs until the end of the academic year. Students who need to work off site can therefore do so even without the need to fund these costs themselves," the company explains.

The company adds that the free offer will end on 31 December 2016, thereafter (1 January 2017 onward) Telkom will offer the universities a favourable rate if they are interested in continuing the service for future commercial requirements.

"Our universities and institutions are key to empowering South Africans and creating growth in this country," said Sipho Maseko, Group CEO, Telkom SA. "... it is essential that students are able to continue their studies despite the current political climate."