Tech

Mobile network operator Rain has raised the price of its RainOne Home package to R625 per month. This marks the second price increase since the product’s launch in May 2023, when it was originally priced at R559 per month. The RainOne package offers fixed 5G speeds of up to 30Mbps, with uncapped data and free monthly calls and data for two phones. Despite the price hike, the cost of speed upgrade add-ons remains unchanged.

Rain introduced the RainOne package as part of its move to provide both home and mobile services under one plan. The company, which launched a full 4G mobile network around the same time, became the fourth national mobile network operator in South Africa, joining Vodacom, MTN, and Telkom. This development came after Cell C transitioned from being a full mobile network operator to relying on MTN and Vodacom for its mobile services.

Rain’s 4G mobile network, combined with its fixed 5G network, enables the company to offer comprehensive coverage both at home and on the go. The RainOne package includes unlimited 5G home Wi-Fi, along with 2GB of data and 60 minutes of high-definition voice calls for two phones each month. For those needing faster speeds, customers can upgrade to 60Mbps for an additional R200 per month, or 100Mbps and higher for R400 extra per month.

In addition to speed upgrades, Rain also allows users to increase their mobile data, minutes, and SMS allocations. This can be done in five levels, with each level costing R75 more per month and adding 1GB of data and 30 voice minutes.

The company attributed its expansion to the spectrum it acquired during the 2022 spectrum auction, which allowed Rain to enhance its 4G network and position itself as a full mobile network operator. This move enabled Rain to offer national coverage for voice, SMS, and data services, similar to the country’s other major network operators.

Since the launch of RainOne, Rain has seen consistent growth in demand for the product. The company also reported positive feedback from customers, especially following the introduction of the 101 5G smart router in November last year. The new router, which came with Rain’s previous price increase, promised better network performance, faster Wi-Fi speeds, and touch controls. It also offers customization options with different skins.

Before the RainOne launch, Rain offered separate fixed 5G and mobile 4G packages. Despite being the first network to launch 5G packages in South Africa, Rain has yet to offer standalone mobile 5G services like Vodacom, MTN, and Telkom. However, the company did launch a standalone 4G mobile month-to-month package at the end of August 2024. This package provides 2GB of data, 60 minutes of calls, and 100 SMS messages for R165 per month, mirroring the allocations given to RainOne subscribers with their bundled SIM.

Rain continues to explore new offerings, and its recent moves suggest that the company is focused on expanding its services and improving its network performance to meet the growing demands of its customers.