RCS Business Messaging (RBM) lets you deliver rich, interactive, and branded content straight into your customer’s default messaging app – no links, no downloads, no friction. It’s the next evolution of mobile messaging, and brands across industries are jumping on board to create cleaner, more engaging customer experiences. 

But if your audience includes Vodacom users, there’s one key detail you need to know – RCS Business Messaging on the Vodacom network in South Africa currently only works when the user is connected to Wi-Fi.  

So, what does that mean? 

If a Vodacom customer is using mobile data, your RBM messages likely won’t be delivered in real time. They’ll only come through once the user reconnects to Wi-Fi. That includes all the good stuff – carousels, media, branding, and interactive buttons. 

The good news? If SMS fallback is enabled, your message will still be delivered, but just in plain text instead of rich format. It is something you need to factor in when you’re planning customer engagement, measuring delivery, or managing expectations.

Why is this happening? 

RCS Business Messaging depends on both device compatibility and mobile network configuration. While Vodacom does support RBM at the network infrastructure level, it hasn’t yet enabled the traffic over mobile data. Until that happens, rich messages will only deliver over Wi-Fi for Vodacom customers.  

This is a temporary limitation and, currently, one seemingly unique to Vodacom in South Africa. Other networks in the country like MTN and Telkom already support RCS messaging over both Wi-Fi and mobile data. 

How can you stay ahead? 

If you’re running RCS campaigns targeting Vodacom users, a few smart tweaks to your campaign planning will keep things running smoothly: 

• Enable SMS fallback. This ensures your message still lands if RCS can’t be delivered on a mobile network. 

• Keep an eye on reporting. If you have lower delivery rates from Vodacom then this Wi-Fi-only delivery may well be the reason. 

• Adjust expectations. Tailor your visual and engagement goals based on your contacts’ connectivity. 

• Gives us a call. We can assist you by checking on any delivery issues. 

The bigger picture 

RCS Business Messaging is still rolling out across South Africa (and globally, too), and mobile network operator quirks like this are part of the journey. We’re optimistic that Vodacom will soon enable RBM over mobile data, especially as demand from businesses for RBM continues to grow.

In the meantime, awareness is everything. A small communications strategy shift can make a big impact on your results.  

Have questions? Explore the possibilities of RCS Business Messaging with us and see how this innovative rich business messaging technology can benefit your business.  For more information or to start using our RCS Business Messaging product, visit our product page here.