Local internet users were previously shackled by what Hilton Tarrant, a Moneyweb columinst, refers to as "data metering". Because the users had to closesly monitor the amount of data they consumed in an attempt to make it last for the month, they could not derive optimal value from their internet connectivity as a consequence.

One can only imagine the number of heated arguments in households over who was responsible for the data quota running out. Fortunately, these "civil wars" are bound to be a thing of the past, thanks to the unprecedented price cuts that have been variously announced by ISPs in the wake of their beneficial tarrif wars.

According to Tarrant, "we are going to start treating internet access as a utility. The way the rest of the world does. Because of these price reductions, broadband access is going to become far more pervasive." In my own view, internet access has evolved into a fundamental "human right" as its value is immeasurable. Living in the knowledge economies like we do, the information supershighway surely gives us the advantage.

Cheap internet connectivity is a boon to SMEs as most of the modern-day business processes are driven and underpinned by online transactions, chief being the ubiquitous email and internet banking. Likewise, "use as much as you like" internet access facilitates research among school children as they can research more than ever before. They can now download e-books, whitepapers, pictures, podcasts etc without worrying about exceeding the quota limit. Online gamers, "Facebookians" (users who literally stay on FB for hours on end) and those who love watching streaming videos on sites such as YouTube who were the worst culprits in the previous "data metered" era will be ecstatic at this development.

As announced, the new pricing structure is as follows: 384K shaped and uncapped DSL costs R199/ month while 4096K shaped and uncapped DSL is pegged at R499/ month Inc VAT.

I have a feeling that things are getting better and better.

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