Why pay for a phone line when you have ADSL?

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Juice

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Because it is a Telkom internal rule, I guess?

This must be the most obviously uncompetitive practice still employed by Telkom, especially now since VOIP is a reality. I'd like to use VOIP to reduce my dependency on, and contribution to, Telkom. However, it's kinda pointless. Why would I subscribe to VOIP when I'm forced to pay almost R150 per month just to have the phone line? There's no technical reason that I can see to have the phone line in addition to the ADSL line. Surely it is possible to have the one without the other? And I really, really don't WANT the [expletive] Telkom phone line...

How do we progress this as an issue? And with whom? The competition commission? ICASA? Or do we need someone like MWEB or one of the bigger VOIP providers to take Telkom on and how do we motivate them to do so?

Serious responders please. No unnecessary Telkom-bashing. We all know how much they suck: let's just move on, shall we?
 
I agree with you Juice. However to date, Telkom haven't heeded to anyones call. They'd rather spend millions on legal fees than admit that were wrong.

I think as long as NeoTel is still in it's infancy, and there is no one else providing last mile connection, Telkom will continue to charge us
 
What makes it uncompetitive if there is no competitor? You need a consumer action group to fight against this me thinks - but I guess the question here is who would deal with this type of complaint - not sure.
 
DJStealth said:
What makes it uncompetitive if there is no competitor? You need a consumer action group to fight against this me thinks - but I guess the question here is who would deal with this type of complaint - not sure.
Click to expand...

In this case the competitors are the VOIP providers.
 
I don't think it's necessarily a last-mile issue. Telkom is already getting paid for the last-mile through your ADSL line. It's the same piece of copper. They're charging you twice for it, once for the frequency that hosts your voice traffic, and a second time for the frequency that hosts your data traffic.

And yes, like Cathryn said, the VOIP providers are the big losers here. If you're already obliged to pay for a compulsory voice service, what is your incentive for paying for a second VOIP service that does the same thing, even if the actual calls are cheaper?
 
Cathryn said:
In this case the competitors are the VOIP providers.
Click to expand...

Telscum would successfully argue that they are not competitors. Telscum would try to isolate VOIP and fixed line as separate product offerings and therefore not competitors. Besides, they would merely say that their broadband is only offered as a bundle. Take it or leave it - their usual attitude. Doesnt mean its not worth the fight though.
 
I have ADSL, and therefore a telephone line. I never use the telephone because its cheaper and easier to use my cellphone. It really is a waste to be paying R110 for something thats actually not needed for Im paying for the ADSL service and an ISP.
 
I know this is digging up an oldish topic but I think there are a large number of us who only use the line for the ADSL service and we should try to take action.
 
Is it not possible to subscribe to a " pay as you use" telephone service, pay R120 per year for the line, and then just don`t use the phone?

This is the very reason that I have not gone for the ADSL option. I refuse to pay twice to use the same copper.
 
you can't get ADSL on the "top up" option. pity, that.
 
Last month I only make 4 phone calls - and it was automated phone calls from my alarm!

Telkom....bah humbug! But until they disappear we will have to use the beast.
 
Local loop unbundling is the term you are looking for

timgaul said:
Soon, my precious, soon...
Click to expand...

Once Telkom is forced to do the Local loop unbunlding this can become a reality. In reality it does take you and anyone who has a telkcom line to tell them to get lost and use a mobile ADSL connetion to show your displeasure. Use your feet walk away from Telkom now and start calling the other provider to show them you are interested. Talk is not only cheap its free action will take effort and time, this costs money. Simple reality is walk away from Telkom - get a mobile option and use VoIP over that
 
New Years Resolution - Free at Last

I have resolved not to support Telkom, so on the 31st December 2007, I canceled my Telkom ADSL line Application. I am using 3G on pay-as-you-go, and am waiting for Neotel

Free at Last
Free from Telkom
Free at Last
 
There is a CDMA-based telephone & internet & voip service that is wireless but with a telephone set wherein there is an option for a low monthly charge with volume-sensitive usage. So, you got to maintain the phone and be called for may be less than $10 a month - Michael F. Sabater
 
Toby said:
I have resolved not to support Telkom, so on the 31st December 2007, I canceled my Telkom ADSL line Application. I am using 3G on pay-as-you-go, and am waiting for Neotel

Free at Last
Free from Telkom
Free at Last
Click to expand...

I take my hat off to you. Wish I could free myself (but I needs my cable), now I know what someone trying to quit cigarettes feels like.
 
Freeing oneself from Telkom

I too have just quit Telkom. Aftr telling them to cancel everything (adsl 3gig and phone line) my wife hussled me and said shed given our number to quite a few ppl so now Im on the 120/R yr prepaid. I too was making 10 rands worth of calls a month. (At least staying a customer means I can still hassle and whine at them!)
Im sticking with my cell (pricy as it is) and re internet our area is doing wireless agregation and we all chip in a couple of hundred for an unlimited(ish) IS account.
Its a direct saving of at least R300/ month for me and no cap. Im a little worried about the gaming and latency but to be honest I will be more productive if I play less :)
I suspect (non dsl users) many would do far better using the prepaid option.
I need to investigate infinite call and all the rates too. I know there is a 50c surcharge on calls but Im not sure if that is regardless of lenght of call or destination (int or local)
 
Juice said:
This must be the most obviously uncompetitive practice still employed by Telkom, especially now since VOIP is a reality. I'd like to use VOIP to reduce my dependency on, and contribution to, Telkom. However, it's kinda pointless. Why would I subscribe to VOIP when I'm forced to pay almost R150 per month just to have the phone line? There's no technical reason that I can see to have the phone line in addition to the ADSL line. Surely it is possible to have the one without the other? And I really, really don't WANT the [expletive] Telkom phone line...

How do we progress this as an issue? And with whom? The competition commission? ICASA? Or do we need someone like MWEB or one of the bigger VOIP providers to take Telkom on and how do we motivate them to do so?
Click to expand...
As uncommon as this practice is, and as unsporting a method to make an extra few bucks out of your pocket, i can understand where the phoneline issue comes in for Telkom.
Let us not forget that the DSL lines offered by telkom are considered a "best-effort" service. Telkom considers the phoneline as a necessary part of the service, for the fallback availability of dial-up in such situations where one needs internet access during ADSL service interruption.

To progress this issue would be larger than the average man would be able to handle. I seriously doubt whether ICASA would even have any leverage into the issue. Possibly the Commision for Fair and Ethical Business Practices could be a possible player. Im sure i got their name wrong, but something in those lines.
Sadly, even if this does end up in court, Telkom will fall onto the secure answer that the phoneline is an essential backup service, and otherwise would result in customers that are dependant on their internet service lodging more lawsuites against them.

Im sure they could make the additional phoneline service optional,but for now they have the upperhand.

timgaul said:
Soon, my precious, soon...
Click to expand...

If you are indeed referring to the new operator, NeoTel, its still going to be a while before they become a completely nationwide service. In rough estimate, i wouldnt get too excited for at least another 2 years on the nationwide coverage topic.

noosh said:
I know this is digging up an oldish topic but I think there are a large number of us who only use the line for the ADSL service and we should try to take action.
Click to expand...

Again, a lot of people use the phoneline as a backup dial-up option in times of DSL downtime.

Toby said:
I have resolved not to support Telkom, so on the 31st December 2007, I canceled my Telkom ADSL line Application. I am using 3G on pay-as-you-go, and am waiting for Neotel

Free at Last
Free from Telkom
Free at Last
Click to expand...

Urrrrr... Telkom owns a substancial portion of Vodacom...
And even if youre MTN, Cell-C, VirginMobile, etc; it really doesnt matter. All that bandwidth comes from Telkom in the end. It really doesnt matter how we slice the cheese, it will for a very long while still stink of Telkom.
:sick:
 
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