Telkom Feedback [Archive]

rpm

18-07-2004, 10:57 PM

Hi Folks

I have been in discussion/correspondence with Telkom for the past few weeks to try to negotiate a cheaper and improved ADSL service. I have received some feedback from them regarding our requests. Your feedback is welcome as usual!

Regards,

RPM

--BEGIN--

Cost:

“As far a “more affordable” ADSL is concerned, affordability is something one can debate. In the recent study only 6% of Business customers said that ADSL was expensive. In the residential market 19% said is was expensive.

Telkom realises that there is a gap in the access market between ISDN Multilink (128 kbps) and ADSL. We are currently looking at closing the gap with a new ADSL access product.”

International only cap:

“Telkom is aware of the market’s expectation about measuring and counting only the International portion of the bandwidth. Currently our system does support this option. We are however investigating upgrading the equipment. I have no expected timeline at this stage.”

Changing passwords:

“We have been as eager as you are to facilitate the on-line changing of passwords as this offers additional security. We will be introducing this in the very near future. We are currently doing some beta testing.

As you will appreciate, this will only apply to TelkomInternet powered by ADSL and dial-up access and email passwords. An ISDN password tool will follow later this year. Customers using other ISP’s should contact their provider. I will advise you when the password tool goes live.”

Service unavailable:

“Where possible our call centre number will carry messages when a general failure occurs. It is not practical to warn customers by email, as they have no access to their mailboxes during outages.

SAIX sends out advance notices to ISP’s when some major network upgrades have to be performed. TelkomInternet then sends advance notices to its customer base. I am not aware of what other ISP’s do.”

SLA:

“Your question about Service Level Agreements, SLA’s are not applicable on shared services. “

Set contention ratios:

“Contention ratios are competitive information.”

Higher price for business ADSL:

“On the issue of dropping the price of ADSL for Business Customers, we differentiate the price from residential service because Business Customers enjoy a faster repair and installation service. We continue to look at opportunities to make all our products and services most cost effective and will continuously evaluate our pricing options as the service matures.”

--END--

beyers

18-07-2004, 11:33 PM

It will be a great help if Telkom only measures international bandwith. It will result in an upsurge in local servers, which is good, I suppose. But most importantly our capping restraints will be less. Password change is also a good development (which should have happened long ago).

regardtv

18-07-2004, 11:47 PM

My main concern is that Telkom is only interested in what the customer considers "reasonable" - problem is that most local customers have a rather warped sense of reasonable.

VQuest

19-07-2004, 12:29 AM

RPM, thanks for the info.

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">affordability is something one can debate
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Lets debate the fact that 99.9% of this country can't afford Telkom ADSL. If they made it more affordable, more like 25% of the country would be able to afford ADSL.

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">In the residential market 19% said is was expensive.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Where on earth do they get these figures? I've never once been included in any of their research. Crumbs man, 95% of myadsl users would say it's too expensive and we're only a "small minority", remember?

So yet again, we have not been told anything new and they are not prepared to give an inch. The only plus is that we will "soon" be able to change our passwords. Well thank you very much for finally giving us something you should have already had available when ADSL was first introduced.

Not impressed at all.

----------------
United we stand!
----------------

sybawoods

19-07-2004, 02:16 AM

Not necessarily the answers we wanted. But let's look at some of the positives:
+ at least there is a channel of communication (good job rpm!)
+ it looks like there will be some additional/cheaper always-on products (would have preferred ones with higher access speeds as well (e.g. 1 meg), but more choice is a good thing)
+ some acknowledgement that international traffic should be measured seperately, and a commitment (albeit vague) to try and adress it
+ ability to change passwords

Thanks for the feedback rpm ;) . Good to see that at least they are communicating with you / us/

Tharaxis

19-07-2004, 03:58 AM

I still feel they have to work on reducing the charges and increasing the quality for their EXISTING products, not just implementing more incomplete and broken services.

antowan

19-07-2004, 06:28 AM

Agreed.

But we know it will be a long and hard struggle. Another long walk to freedom.

Cheers
Antowan.

PS. I have my doubts as to whether 1 more competitor will be enough to change the status-quo... WE NEED MORE!!!!

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Tharaxis
 I still feel they have to work on reducing the charges and increasing the quality for their EXISTING products, not just implementing more incomplete and broken services.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

<<<>>>Black holes are where God divided by zero.<<<>>>

Chris

19-07-2004, 11:22 AM

At least they're *thinking* of Upgrading there equipment so ONLY INTERNATIONAL BANDWIDTH is counted[:D][:D][:D]

there's no timeline though and that could be a short or long time. I'd go for the latter[}:)]

reech

19-07-2004, 11:47 AM

“Contention ratios are competitive information.” - I don't understand - who/what is the competition ?

Syzygy78

19-07-2004, 12:57 PM

when will international bandwidth come down in price [that is when will Telkom stop making 500% profit]?!?!?! I mean if i get ADSL... it must be unshaped... not for downloads... but for gaming! The +- R900 just for ISP charges is daylight robbery!!! The line rental must come down substantially... reduce costs... reduce costs... reduce costs...

kaspaas

19-07-2004, 02:00 PM

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by rpm
 
Higher price for business ADSL:

“On the issue of dropping the price of ADSL for Business Customers, we differentiate the price from residential service because Business Customers enjoy a faster repair and installation service.

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

May we please have this in writing. As well as 'n proper tabulation of the difference between "standard" and "super" service. And could this be optional to business users as well. I don't mind paying for a superior service, if I know what the service is, why it is superior and if I had the choice of having standard service if I wished not to have superior service.

The only reason why Telkom is not prepared to place this on paper, is that they know it would be used against them in court.

They are actually blackmailing business: Either you pay the extortion rates, or you don't get service. And beware if you start asking questions - Telkom won't provide a decent answer.

Pity Sentech is making a real big mess of things. We could have had an alternative to Telkom's attitude.

South Africa needs World Class Broadband at World Competitive Prices.

Syzygy78

19-07-2004, 02:06 PM

Kaspaas... you may have an alternative soon! Vodacom and MTN it seems will be launching a broadband service in busy metropolitan areas...

read this thread: http://www.myadsl.co.za/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=3892

kaspaas

19-07-2004, 04:41 PM

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Syzygy78
 Kaspaas... you may have an alternative soon! Vodacom and MTN it seems will be launching a broadband service in busy metropolitan areas...

read this thread: http://www.myadsl.co.za/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=3892

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Problem is that Vodacom and MTN are MEGAbusinesses that can only exchange Megabytes for Megabucks.

I don't expect a viable product to replace ADSL/MyWireless from them

South Africa needs World Class Broadband at World Competitive Prices.

BTTB

19-07-2004, 05:07 PM

And Telkom own 50% of Vodacom and a third of MTN. So don’t look their, for any new blood.

I mean look at the whole Telkom scenario. It's so blatantly a matter of conflict of interest. The state owns 38%, but should have the public’s interest at heart, but how can they, when they receive a cheque from Telkom for dividends? What is the state's function? Shareholders or the Countries Administrator. It’s such a balls-up.
I don't believe that the government can ever be entrusted to privatise another public asset.

<hr noshade size="1">You can take Telkom out of the Post Office but you can't take the Post Office out of Telkom.

dikbek

19-07-2004, 05:41 PM

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by BTTB
 It’s such a balls-up.
I don't believe that the government can ever be entrusted to privatise another public asset.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Sentence too long. You should have stopped after 'entrusted'[}:)]

onionpeel

19-07-2004, 07:55 PM

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">In the recent study only 6% of Business customers said that ADSL was expensive. In the residential market 19% said is was expensive.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
This smacks of the Markinor survey and we all know how scientific that was. The price issue, in my mind, has therefore not been adequately addressed by Telkom.
Otherwise, good news from the point that they are at least talking to us. All I want is something more affordable.

jeffs

19-07-2004, 08:06 PM

The entire telecommunications industry (land line, cell and broadband)is a total ripoff. In many ways the high sell prices suits everyone. Telkom strips good profits out of their shareholdings in Vodascum, and MTN & the government laughs all the way to the bank. Cell C the socalled leveller of the palying field simply offered value added rubbish. Your cell bills, land line bills or ADSL never got any cheaper ever. So what has this got to do with my ADSL. Indirectly everyone colludes with everyone else when you are megabusiness. The next lot to be targeted in a forum like this is Vodacom, MTN and Cell C. If they are forced to reduce real prices, so will telscum have to fall in line finally. Surely of the cell companies put pressure on their shareholder Telkom (a minority shareholder) the cheaper will be their new broadband service). Highly unlikely. Far easier for them to bitch about Telkom and blame their high prices on their shareholder and get away with charging a lower price. That's having your cake and eating it (if you are the cell business whoa er no beter than Telkom; the are just more efficient and friendlier at ripping off the public).

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by BTTB
 And Telkom own 50% of Vodacom and a third of MTN. So don’t look their, for any new blood.

I mean look at the whole Telkom scenario. It's so blatantly a matter of conflict of interest. The state owns 38%, but should have the public’s interest at heart, but how can they, when they receive a cheque from Telkom for dividends? What is the state's function? Shareholders or the Countries Administrator. It’s such a balls-up.
I don't believe that the government can ever be entrusted to privatise another public asset.

<hr noshade size="1">You can take Telkom out of the Post Office but you can't take the Post Office out of Telkom.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

ajax

19-07-2004, 08:06 PM

If they ONLY asked the customers who actually have ADSL whether it is too expensive, well, if it was too expensive they wouldn't have it then, would they?

As I recall, a few months back, Steven White from Telkom said (on the Markinor survey): "We are open to audit". RPM requested the data on this survey and to date Steven White has not complied.

MaD

19-07-2004, 11:23 PM

Well they should re-do the survey and while on the phone ask the people to go to our new ammo stash:
http://www.hellkom.co.za/research/ADSLcostcompare.htm
they will be singing a different tune in mere seconds.
Telkom should supply each ADSL connection with a box of Forget-me-nots for when their loyal paying customers find out they paying more than most of the planet.

Where others have progress, we have Telkom.
Hellkom website - www.hellkom.co.za

onionpeel

20-07-2004, 12:33 PM

MaD, I don't know how you got to the R1010 line rental for ADSL...
You should be more specific and indicate the cheaper package: Line rental R680 + Telkom internet R249 = R929.
In all cases, mention what the setup charges are as well, whether tax is included etc.
Good to see everything in a nutshell!

Andre

20-07-2004, 12:49 PM

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by onionpeel
Line rental R680 + Telkom internet R249 = R929.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Don't forget the telephone line rental part.

BTTB

20-07-2004, 02:02 PM

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">The next lot to be targeted in a forum like this is Vodacom, MTN and Cell C.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Not a bad suggestion. I don't know if RPM has the time, but I would be keen. I would like to reduce my Cell Phone Costs. As it is, I get anxious the moment I need to make a cell call, knowing full well that the meter is running up very fast for every minute on air. I personally have a phobia about cell phones and the costs thereof. I wonder if anyone else has this type of phobia.

Perhaps some of the younger forum members might not understand my point as I think my phobia started years ago when I first got our telephone almost twenty years ago. In those days and still somewhat today, one was petrified to use the phone excessively, in case the next bill was at a level you couldn’t afford. I remember one month getting a bill of almost R300.00 and at that stage the rent for our flat was only R220.00 per month. It was very difficult. Apparently an acquaintance we knew had phoned the UK.
Nowadays, I have Telkom's "block call" on both my lines to avoid any mishaps and I only use my cell phone in situations where I cannot use my hard line.

<hr noshade size="1">You can take Telkom out of the Post Office but you can't take the Post Office out of Telkom.

Cloud

20-07-2004, 04:42 PM

we live in such fear of technology its scary.

onionpeel

20-07-2004, 07:37 PM

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Andre
Don't forget the telephone line rental part.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
True, but is the line rental part of the other offerings?
To clear all doubt, MaD should just list all the components, column by column. [8D]

MaD

20-07-2004, 11:54 PM

Will try mail each provider & see what they say but afaik after combing the pages these are the offers all inclusive as there was no mention of line rental.

Where others have progress, we have Telkom.
Hellkom website - www.hellkom.co.za

sybawoods

21-07-2004, 12:02 AM

According to Synergy, from the Prophecy forums: http://new.prophecy.co.za/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=generalrants&Number=35345&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=7&fpart=1

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Here is what I know.

ADSL line cost will be R320 p/m. The rest will all stay the same, 3GB Cap, R249 ISP cost etc.

Look out for an ad on SABC soon. <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

playkiller no.2

21-07-2004, 07:41 AM

Yeah! Right,I`ll throw a pig out the window and see if it flies.

Echo

21-07-2004, 07:56 AM

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Here is what I know.

ADSL line cost will be R320 p/m. The rest will all stay the same, 3GB Cap, R249 ISP cost etc.

Look out for an ad on SABC soon. <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

[/quote]

and what does that mean for those of us who having been paying the +-R600 for line rental? Time to get out the vaseline!

playkiller no.2

21-07-2004, 08:30 AM

Vaseline........?

Andre

21-07-2004, 09:10 AM

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by onionpeel
 <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Andre
Don't forget the telephone line rental part.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
True, but is the line rental part of the other offerings?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

An ordinary voice telephone line is part of ADSL technology. You have to have it and that is the case in other parts of the world too.

I've set up DSL for someone in the USA and the voice line was a seperately billed item.

Andre

21-07-2004, 09:17 AM

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by sybawoods

ADSL line cost will be R320 p/m. The rest will all stay the same, 3GB Cap, R249 ISP cost etc.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

http://new.prophecy.co.za/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=generalrants&Number=35345&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=7&fpart=2&vc=1

Employees only.

playkiller no.2

21-07-2004, 09:25 AM

MUST DESTROY TELKOM!!!

Well Telkom needs their drones to make the so called I`m happy with ADSL
Percentage. [:(!]

What was the percentage?

What make`s them deserve a cheaper ADSL(besides working for SATAN)[:D]

ASF

21-07-2004, 12:17 PM

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">“Your question about Service Level Agreements, SLA’s are not applicable on shared services. “<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
In their opinion - not mine - ANY service must be measured - otherwise how can one be offering a service?

These bloody Telkom Orcs wouldn't know a SLA if it jumped up and bit them...

My 2c worth...

caroper

21-07-2004, 08:41 PM

I'm surprised that no has picked up on this quote:

“Telkom is aware of the market’s expectation about measuring and counting only the International portion of the bandwidth. Currently our system does support this option. We are however investigating upgrading the equipment. I have no expected timeline at this stage.”

So The system DOES support this option, but Telkom are investigating upgrades to prevent it.
I may be paranoid but, from what I have seen of Telkom's ability to twist words, I don't think that that was a typo (certainly not if the lawyers get hold of it).

Lets just hope that it was.
Cheers
Chris

kaspaas

07-10-2004, 07:22 AM

Hi RPM,

any further feedback on the online password changes?

BTW, I was again asked for my password by the support morons when I tried to log a complaint. So much for Telkom being security aware.

Kaspaas.

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by rpm
 Hi Folks

I have been in discussion/correspondence with Telkom for the past few weeks to try to negotiate a cheaper and improved ADSL service. I have received some feedback from them regarding our requests. Your feedback is welcome as usual!

Regards,

RPM

--BEGIN--

Cost:

“As far a “more affordable” ADSL is concerned, affordability is something one can debate. In the recent study only 6% of Business customers said that ADSL was expensive. In the residential market 19% said is was expensive.

Telkom realises that there is a gap in the access market between ISDN Multilink (128 kbps) and ADSL. We are currently looking at closing the gap with a new ADSL access product.”

International only cap:

“Telkom is aware of the market’s expectation about measuring and counting only the International portion of the bandwidth. Currently our system does support this option. We are however investigating upgrading the equipment. I have no expected timeline at this stage.”

Changing passwords:

“We have been as eager as you are to facilitate the on-line changing of passwords as this offers additional security. We will be introducing this in the very near future. We are currently doing some beta testing.

As you will appreciate, this will only apply to TelkomInternet powered by ADSL and dial-up access and email passwords. An ISDN password tool will follow later this year. Customers using other ISP’s should contact their provider. I will advise you when the password tool goes live.”

Service unavailable:

“Where possible our call centre number will carry messages when a general failure occurs. It is not practical to warn customers by email, as they have no access to their mailboxes during outages.

SAIX sends out advance notices to ISP’s when some major network upgrades have to be performed. TelkomInternet then sends advance notices to its customer base. I am not aware of what other ISP’s do.”

SLA:

“Your question about Service Level Agreements, SLA’s are not applicable on shared services. “

Set contention ratios:

“Contention ratios are competitive information.”

Higher price for business ADSL:

“On the issue of dropping the price of ADSL for Business Customers, we differentiate the price from residential service because Business Customers enjoy a faster repair and installation service. We continue to look at opportunities to make all our products and services most cost effective and will continuously evaluate our pricing options as the service matures.”

--END--

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

South Africa needs World Class Broadband at World Competitive Prices.

rpm

07-10-2004, 12:32 PM

Hi Kaspaas

I have been told that the system was in testing and that it will be available soon… I thought I would be ready by now. I will try to get some more information on this for you.

Regards

RPM
rpm@myadsl.co.za

ipodmusicman

07-10-2004, 05:04 PM

My, or should I say, our definition of affordable broadband internet access is a non shaped, 512k or more service for about R200-R300 a month ONLY! What part of affordability don't they understand?

Spamtheman

07-10-2004, 07:09 PM

Telkom seems to be grounded in the same reality as George W

MaD

07-10-2004, 07:38 PM

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by pyrit
 My, or should I say, our definition of affordable broadband internet access is a non shaped, 512k or more service for about R200-R300 a month ONLY!<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Like every other bloody country..

Where others have progress, we have Telkom.
Hellkom website - www.hellkom.co.za

Spamtheman

08-10-2004, 09:40 AM

We aren't like other countries though, we are the leaders of the african renaissance *s*******

LethalChicken

08-10-2004, 12:14 PM

We are like the original renaissance ... just not as progressive ...

We are Telkom - Resistance is Futile - You will be Assimilated

stoke

08-10-2004, 01:28 PM

What happened to the:
- Fixed IP Address.
- Choice of Hardware
- Toll Free Support Number
points ?

Not being nasty - just curious ?

Spamtheman

08-10-2004, 02:15 PM

hahahahahahahaha, what country are you from?

stoke

08-10-2004, 02:37 PM

Spam - druid - I was trying to ask y those points were not mentioned in the conversation wif Teklom.

Spamtheman

08-10-2004, 02:41 PM

I was curious if you thought that Telkom would really address them. They are not in the shareholder interest.

rpm

09-10-2004, 01:47 PM

Hi Kaspaas

I have received some feedback from Telkom regarding the automated password system. It is currently still in testing and I will get a launch date from them soon. I will post it as soon as I receive more feedback from them.

Regards,

RPM
rpm@myadsl.co.za

Karnaugh

09-10-2004, 02:31 PM

Choice of hardware maybe. But there are ICASA regulations about what can and cannot be connected to the PSTN, so at best/least they should provide a list of hardware that is approved for use and even maybe provide it at a reasonable price.

As for static IP, thats not going to happen.

The default Telkom support numbers are toll free afaik.

- Colin Alston
colin@slipgate.za.net

"Getting traffic shaping right is easy and can be summed up in one word: Dont." -- George Barnett