Suggestion: 64Kbps basic package

[martin]

Apparently Sentech keeps an eye on these forums, so here's my 2c. Once Sentech gets past the teething problems they are currently experiencing (and build up a decent user base), why not bring out an affordable 64Kbps package?

You could possibly break into a market where people are tired of dial-up woes, if you price this product correctly.

Comments/insults may now follow.

[GougedEye]

Because 128k is already seriously pushing what can be called broadband?

I say no to hoards of 64kers. The bandwidth is mine, all mine !!

Muhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!

Ok assuming I ever actually get a modem!!

[martin]

1. The 64Kbps thould not be viewed as broadband package.
2. They could offer this on bandwidth seperate to the broadband
packages, so the 64Kers don't hoard the broadband user's
bandwidth.

They could possibly route all the broadband subscribers's traffic on fibre locally and internationally (they certainly pay enough for it), and route all basic subscribers traffic on satellite.

[kaspaas]

Wish Telkom would provide a package where all dialing in to the ISP is included in a fixed monthly package at a reasonable price.

It would create a bang in SA internet usage, because dialing-up would not cost anything extra.

There is already a massive analogue modem pool available.

I would get any connection of about 64k (56k) for around R250 pm (ISP charges included) where there is no additional dial-up costs quite fast for my parents. And I would not mind a 3GB cap on this!

Pity, I doubt if Telkom has the interests of this country at heart - currently it tries to get us down the digital divide as fast as possible.

I also doubt if the ISP's would like it - they would require much more bandwidth (= more profits to Telkom) and dialin facilities (again more profits to Telkom)





South Africa needs World Class Broadband at World Competitive Prices.

[flashvc]

The accepted international minimum for "broadband" is 384K...

--

[Cerberus]

Really I thought that is was 256k mmm...

[silversurfer]

A 64k package is not suitable for the target market of the hardware... ... the hardware costs up to R4000. Who in their right mind invests R4000 for a 64k line. The R4000 will still be built into the montly price. 128k should really be the mininum.

[mithrandi]

What harm is there in pricing a 64K package in line with the other packages? Sentech don't lose anything; I mean, it's not like they have to do anything special. If they don't get many customers, so what?

mithrandi, i Ainil en-Balandor, a faer Ambar

[silversurfer]

Its still a contended service... 64k shared... is rather dismal, dont u think ?

[martin]

Hardware costs always drop if enough users buy into the technology.

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by silversurfer</i>
<br />Its still a contended service... 64k shared... is rather dismal, dont u think ?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

Isn't dial-up a contended service as well?

[mithrandi]

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Its still a contended service... 64k shared... is rather dismal, dont u think ?<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">
That depends on what you want to do. If you mostly do e-mailing, with maybe some light web surfing, then 64Kbps is plenty enough. Dial-up costs can become really high if you want to do business-type e-mailing; dialling up every 5 minutes during the day adds up very quickly. Even ADSL is often cheaper for this kind of user, but overkill.

mithrandi, i Ainil en-Balandor, a faer Ambar

[Jerrek]

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by flashvc</i>
<br />The accepted international minimum for "broadband" is 384K...

--

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">
Try 1 Mb.

<font color="blue"><b>The clock is ticking................... <i>1,174 kb/s</i> - I brake for no one</b></font id="blue">
http://home.cogeco.ca/~johannj/net_stuff/cogeco.jpg

[fx1]

[?]

MyWireless Light
NoWire provides access to the new Sentech UMTS network. The service offers an asynchronous <b>64Kb/s connection</b> to the network. The CPE will consist of the current customer device such as credit card terminals and the NoWire modem that will wirelessly connect to the Sentech network.


http://www.nowire.co.za/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=172

[nroets]

I agree with Kaspaas. Cheaper dialup access (tollfree number perhaps) was possible YEARS ago. Telkom's infrastructure has the capacity.

Instead their clients will become dialup immune pretty soon, meaning they will have to write off all the analog equipment.


<hr noshade size="1"><center>N<s>oo</s>ne needs to reply to everything</center>

[martin]

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by fx1</i>
<br />[?]

MyWireless Light
NoWire provides access to the new Sentech UMTS network. The service offers an asynchronous <b>64Kb/s connection</b> to the network. The CPE will consist of the current customer device such as credit card terminals and the NoWire modem that will wirelessly connect to the Sentech network.


http://www.nowire.co.za/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=172
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

Thanks for the link, I'll see if I can find out what the costs involved are.

[lewstherin]

If one considers that NoWire post - then it looks like 64kbps could be on its way.

The key is that modem users are the biggest (and probably most lucrative) share of Hellkom's customer base when it comes to data. If Sentech can start attacking that market then Hellkom will be forced to retailiate...good for us consumers.
Additionally 64kbps offerings could be viewed as a "hook" product - you pull in users at 64k, and as they start using the Net more they start upgrading their packages (especially after the modem is paid off and subscriptions fall) - sort of like the cellular operators.

Of course 64kps services will start hurting the ISPs that depend on dialup - but if Sentech is smart they will start working on a integration of some sort with ISPs, so that ISPs are encouraged to promote Sentech products.
I don't know how this could be done - besides maybe letting ISPs provide decent customer support (! [;)]) and custom services like email, web hosting, news servers etc. That would help Sentech cos then they could focus on providing the connectivity and leave the bitty, customers support intensive things like connection problems, email setup etc to the ISPs who have established support centres already.

<font color="blue">Telkom needs a leash, ICASA needs some guts, and the </font id="blue"><font color="red">SA consumer</font id="red"><font color="blue"> needs to make it happen</font id="blue">

[martin]

Bring on the revolution! If Sentech play their cards right, involve the ISP's and decrease costs as their customer base increases, they could have Telkom by the short and curlies as far as internet access is concerned. That will be a fine day.

[Perdition]

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by lewstherin</i>
I don't know how this could be done - besides maybe letting ISPs provide decent customer support (! [;)]) and custom services like email, web hosting, news servers etc. That would help Sentech cos then they could focus on providing the connectivity and leave the bitty, customers support intensive things like connection problems, email setup etc to the ISPs who have established support centres already.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

This is a fantastic idea. In this way Sentech would gain market share a lot quicker without the need to beef up their frontline support (as the ISPs would provide this). The ISPs could use their own bandwidth which would allow them to offer a variety of competitive packages. Sentech would only need to concentrate on maintaining the physical infrastructure.

To me this would be a win-win-win (Sentech-ISPs-Customers) situation and things may actually go this route in the long term as it effectively eliminates Telkom from the "last mile" (the part that costs you R680 with ADSL). Telkom would be forced to lower its rental to remain in the broadband game.

Here's to hoping the future is this bright [:)]

[Jerrek]

.

[lewstherin]

The question is whether Sentech will be willing to share...time will tell, but I definitely like the idea of ISPs doing their own thing with Sentech's connectivity...smells like perfect competition [:D]

<font color="blue">Telkom needs a leash, ICASA needs some guts, and the </font id="blue"><font color="red">SA consumer</font id="red"><font color="blue"> needs to make it happen</font id="blue">