News
Cheaper Than WhatsApp? RCS Messaging Arrives in SABut There’s a Catch
A new messaging technology has launched in South Africa that promises to be cheaper than WhatsAppbut it doesn’t work for everyone.
Infobip has completed what it calls South Africa’s first live Rich Communication Services (RCS) implementation, deploying the protocol in Shiplogic, the logistics platform spun out of Bob Group.
What Is RCS?
RCS is a next-generation messaging standard that supports rich content within a phone’s native messaging app. Think:
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Images
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Branded sender profiles
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Carousels
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Interactive buttons
It’s like WhatsApp, but it lives in your default SMS appno download required.
The Deployment
Shiplogic, which provides end-to-end logistics software for couriers, integrated Infobip’s RCS API in October 2023. The implementation was only recently completeddelayed by South Africa’s mobile network operators in supporting the technology.
RCS now allows Shiplogic to send customers real-time delivery updates with interactive tracking features and two-way communication at a lower cost than traditional SMS.
The Cost Advantage
Based on rate cards effective through April 2026:
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WhatsApp marketing messages: ~R0.63 each
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WhatsApp utility/OTP messages: ~R0.13 each
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RCS: A few cents less than WhatsApp per message (exact pricing varies)
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SMS: Most reliable, works without data, but limited to 160 characters and no rich media
The Catch
RCS availability in South Africa is patchy.
Bob Group told MyBroadband that Vodacom has fully embraced RCS and migrated to Google’s Jibe infrastructure. But other networks lag.
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MTN: Consumer devices sometimes show no RCS availability
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Telkom: A specific bottleneck has impacted registration of new RCS senders
RCS requires the right combination of mobile network, device type, and operator support for Google’s Universal Profile standard.
Because of this inconsistency, Bob Group recommends businesses always configure WhatsApp and SMS as fallback channels to ensure message delivery.
The Comparison
| Channel | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| RCS | Cheaper, rich media, native app | Patchy network support |
| Ubiquitous, rich media | Requires app, stricter templates | |
| SMS | Works without data, universal | 160 chars, no rich media |
The Bottom Line
RCS is here. It’s cheaper. It’s richer. And for Vodacom users, it works.
But if you’re on MTN or Telkom, don’t hold your breath. For now, RCS is a glimpse of the futureavailable only to some.
{Source: Mybroadband}
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