Major players such as Meta-owned Facebook, WhatsApp, and TikTok led the charge. Specifically, Facebook accounted for $3, 2billion .

The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA), says telecom operators earned $8.3 billion (R159.3 billion) last year from customers who used their services to access social media platforms.

According to ICASA’s latest State of the ICT Sector Report 31 March 2025, revenue generated by telecom operators through social media platforms has emerged as a significant driver of digital engagement.

It reads: “In 2024, revenue from these platforms reached an astounding $8.3 billion (R159.3bn), with major players such as Facebook, WhatsApp, and TikTok leading the charge. Specifically, Facebook accounted for $3, 2billion (R58.9nm) followed closely by WhatsApp at $2,6 billion (R49.2bn and TikTok at $ 2 billion (R38.9bn).

The total revenue generated in the period is $10.3 billion based on today's US dollar rand exchange rate.

ICASA went on to say: “This substantial revenue growth highlights the strategic importance of social media as a vital channel for communication, advertising, and customer interaction, further reinforcing its role in the overall telecommunications landscape in South Africa.”

In other telecom matters, the report states that the sector suffered financial losses of $16 million (R283 m) due to theft and vandalism.

The telecoms regulator notes that in 2024, the telecoms sector faced substantial infrastructure challenges primarily due to rampant theft and vandalism, leading to staggering financial losses estimated at $3.7 million (R69.59m) for theft and an additional $12.3 million (R213.83m) attributed to vandalism.

ICASA says these setbacks not only disrupted operations but also underscored the pressing need for enhanced security measures.

On a more positive note, the regulator reports that in 2024, South Africa's telecoms sector saw tremendous growth, driven by an increase in fibre subscribers, increased engagement on social media platforms, and significant advancements in network coverage.

It explains: “The sector's transformation was primarily driven by fibre-based solutions, which became a pivotal area of expansion. Fixed broadband subscriptions skyrocketed, from 1.4 million in 2023 to an impressive 2.7 million by the end of 2024.

“Notably, fibre-to-the-home and fibre-to-the-building subscriptions witnessed a phenomenal increase, jumping from 1.0 million to 2.4 million. This surge contributed a staggering $344 million (R6.5bn) in revenue, underscoring the growing reliance on high-speed internet connectivity.”

Furthermore, ICASA reports that spending on generators and batteries in the telecoms industry has fallen as a result of Eskom's load-shedding mitigation scheme.

It notes: “Measures to mitigate load-shedding resulted in a dramatic reduction in expenditure on backup power solutions.

“In 2024, spending on battery backups saw a steep decline, plummeting from $122 000 (R2.59bn) to $9.2 000 (R173.75m). This reduction was reflected in the number of battery units purchased, which fell sharply from 150,415 to just 44,708 units.”

Similarly, ICASA stated that investment in generator systems has decreased significantly, with expenditures dropping from $49 000 (R930.21m) to $11 00 (R211.47m).

It adds: “The number of generators purchased saw a significant reduction, decreasing from 3,268 units to a mere 855. These improvements align with Eskom’s initiatives to address load-shedding, leading to enhanced resilience and overall lower operating expenses, remarkably demonstrating clear sector-wide financial relief.

This strategic, according to ICASA, initiative has not only alleviated the need for costly backup power solutions but also enhanced operational efficiency across the industry.

ICASA's 10th annual report on the information, communications, and technology industry was released this week.

According to the regulator, the report indicates its commitment to ICT access by compiling comprehensive and timely ICT indicators in order to properly regulate South Africa's broadcasting, postal services, and telecommunications industries.

“These indicators serve as essential benchmarks for sector policy research and help ensure alignment with global standards and data from other regulatory bodies,” says ICASA.