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How Much Mobile Data Do I Need?

A practical breakdown of what 25GB, 40GB, 60GB and 100GB actually get you — so you can pick the right Telkom LTE package the first time.

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Start With How You Actually Use Data

Most people either overpay for data they never use, or run out mid-month and have to top up. The fastest way to pick the right package is to think about what you do most on your phone or MiFi — not just "how much is normal."

Below is a realistic guide to what each package covers, based on typical daily use in South Africa.

Data Usage by Activity

ActivityTypical usage
WhatsApp messaging & voice notesVery low — a few MB per day
Browsing & emailLow — roughly 40–80MB per hour
Social media (Instagram, TikTok, Facebook)1–3GB per hour, mostly video
Music streaming (Spotify, YouTube Music)Roughly 40–150MB per hour
Video streaming — standard definitionRoughly 1GB per hour
Video streaming — HD3GB+ per hour
Video calls (Zoom, Teams, WhatsApp video)Roughly 200–500MB per hour
App & system updatesVaries — can be several hundred MB at once

Which Package Matches Your Usage?

25GB
Light browsing, WhatsApp & social media — little to no daily video
R150/mo
40GB
Everyday browsing & messaging with some video
R200/mo
60GB
Video calls & regular streaming — most popular
R285/mo
100GB
Daily streaming & remote work
R370/mo
150GB
Heavy data users, full LTE speed throughout
R600/mo
Uncapped
Full speed to 150GB, then 2Mbps for the rest of the month
R550/mo

A Simple Way to Decide

If you mostly message and browse: 25GB is usually enough. If you stream video regularly or make daily video calls: 60GB covers most people comfortably, which is why it's Dalkom's most popular package. If you stream in HD every day or share the SIM across a household: look at 100GB, 150GB or Uncapped.

Still unsure? Start with 60GB — you can upgrade at any time from your next billing cycle if you find yourself running out.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 25GB enough data for a month?
25GB suits light use — browsing, WhatsApp, email and social media without much video streaming. If you watch videos daily or work from your phone/tablet regularly, you will likely need more.
Is 40GB enough data for a month?
40GB comfortably covers everyday browsing, messaging, social media with some video, and light streaming. It is a solid middle-ground for one person's daily use.
Is 60GB enough data for a month?
60GB is enough for regular video calls, moderate streaming (an hour or two most days) and general daily use, including some work-from-home tasks. This is why it is Dalkom's most popular package.
Is 100GB enough data for a month?
100GB suits heavier users — daily streaming, video calls for work, large downloads, or a household sharing one SIM/MiFi across a couple of devices.
How much data does streaming video use?
Roughly 0.3GB per hour at low quality, 1GB per hour at standard definition, and 3GB per hour or more at HD. An hour of HD video most days can use 90GB+ a month on its own.
How much data does social media use?
Scrolling feeds with photos and video (Instagram, TikTok, Facebook) typically uses 1–3GB per hour, mostly from auto-playing video.
How much data does remote work use?
Video calls use roughly 200–500MB per hour depending on quality. Cloud file syncing, emails with attachments and app updates add more on top — a full work-from-home day can use 1–2GB.

Ready to Choose Your Package?

Compare all six Telkom LTE data packages and order your SIM online.

View Mobile Data Packages
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