View Full Version : Life outside of Telkom
As I am new to the forum and not having gone through all the discussions, I thought That I should start with a question.
Has anyone tried to contact an outside Telecommunications company like AT&T and discussed with them what they think of our situation in SA. Surely they have had a good look at the industry in our beloved country!!!? I am sure they would be more than obliged to help us with some sollutions (opposing Telkom) as they would most probably like to get a cut of the local rapidly expanding market.
Just for the record, I think DSL could be much better locally![^]
mithrandi
07-12-2003, 07:06 PM
Before anything like this can be done, something would have to be done about the current legal state of affairs. Telecommunications (non-radio, anyhow, that is a separate issue that is not as pressing) MUST be deregulated fully for proper free market economics to really take effect; a second government-enabled SNO is not going to change the face of telecommunications in this country for quite a few years. We either need more drastic changes, or the patience to wait for events to develop at their current pace.
mithrandi
It's not simply a case of legalities or regulation. Free market principles dictate that money be invested where the most return will be realised, irrespective of the constraints. It's for this reason that major multinationals continue operating in many of the 'hotspots' of the world, with scant regard for local imperatives, whatever they might be - obviously, they're getting the most 'bang for their buck', as it were, with legal considerations being somewhat secondary. There have been many proven instances of this (the most recent, I would suggest, being the motivation/justification for the Iraq debacle, as well as our own Yengeni/4x4 saga). For the likes of AT&T to even consider our 40-odd million potential users, it would have to be lucrative for them - I am sure they would far rather look at more populous areas, like Nigeria and the DRC...
On a final note, I would not rely too much on foreign telcos, as they are just as interested in the bottom line as any other commercial enterprise. Even our own pathetic telco is currently promiscuous with a Malaysian and an American telco - I think we should take seriously William Melody's suggestion in today's Sunday Times - "He suggests that US company SBC, Telkom's strategic equity partner, which has management control, would want to make the company as profitable as possible before selling off its shares. None of this helps South African economic development."
mithrandi
08-12-2003, 12:55 AM
All I'm saying is, currently it is practically impossible for anyone like AT&T to do anything in this country; the mere possibility is simply not there. Large multinationals do regularly ignore the law to an extent, but it would be quite a feat to just suddenly start operating as a telecommunications provider in complete violation of current law.
mithrandi
True - unless money (a la 'free marketing') changes hands... Concerning AT&T, have a look at the following link - think this was the case with the GJMC deal?
http://www.att.com/canada/about/cust_ref_south_africa.html
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by mbs</i>
<br />It's not simply a case of legalities or regulation. Free market principles dictate that money be invested where the most return will be realised, irrespective of the constraints. It's for this reason that major multinationals continue operating in many of the 'hotspots' of the world, with scant regard for local imperatives, whatever they might be - obviously, they're getting the most 'bang for their buck', as it were, with legal considerations being somewhat secondary. There have been many proven instances of this (the most recent, I would suggest, being the motivation/justification for the Iraq debacle, as well as our own Yengeni/4x4 saga). For the likes of AT&T to even consider our 40-odd million potential users, it would have to be lucrative for them - I am sure they would far rather look at more populous areas, like Nigeria and the DRC...
On a final note, I would not rely too much on foreign telcos, as they are just as interested in the bottom line as any other commercial enterprise. Even our own pathetic telco is currently promiscuous with a Malaysian and an American telco - I think we should take seriously William Melody's suggestion in today's Sunday Times - "He suggests that US company SBC, Telkom's strategic equity partner, which has management control, would want to make the company as profitable as possible before selling off its shares. None of this helps South African economic development."
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">I agree with you completely as far as our measly population is concerned, but do you not think that to speak to the right person in a company which has been "there and back" will give this forum very valuable ammo, something that can be used to pinch a few nerves.
It's highly unlikely - there's nothing in it for them except perhaps generation of goodwill and public corporate image enhancement. This is probably of minor consideration to their management, who would have to report back to their shareholders - they in turn would only be interested in details of revenue-generating deals, such as the one with GJMC (see link posted earlier). You could try, but I doubt you'd get very far...
The other point is that Telkom would probably take umbrage at being given input and advice from this forum when another Telco is involved - they mark off their territory just like animals do, witness the litigious nature of their response to LCR (least-cost routing), wi-fi hotspots, and so on...
Speaking of Wi-Fi hotspots. How many public hotspots do you know of in the Cape Town area?
See the link below, which lists Telkom's hotspots. I'm also aware that certain Mugg & Bean restaurants have them, and that other providers have also commissioned facilities elsewhere, exact details unkown to me - perhaps other members of the forum can oblige...
http://www.ictworld.co.za/EditorialEdit.asp?EditorialID=16894