Thoughts on the SNO

[LethalChicken]

Hi All,

Just sharing my pessimistic view of the SNO.

Take Vodacom, they came in they had prices and then the prices were high, then the people complained and vodacom didn't care.

Then came MTN and the people rejoiced, but then Vodacom and MTN got together and the prices stayed high.

Then came Cell C and the people rejoiced, but then Vodacom, MTN and Cell C got together and the prices stayed high.

What I'm saying is that even with three Cellular operators they all cost the same and the prices are high. So with the SNO I REALLY doubt if the prices will change or drop for that matter. The best we wwill get is some small (mostly useless) perks offered by both providers.

IMHO this is due to technological problems/costs in this country as well as a lack of Serious and independent competition, I wouldn't be surprised if the CEOs of Vodacom, MTN and Cell C all golf together on Saturday mornings ...

I also think that's why AT&T didn't get in as the powers that be knew that they had NO way of controlling AT&T so that AT&T could give them REAL competition ...

That's my thoughts ...

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

[kingrob]

I tend to agree, price fixing is unfortunately a very real and nasty problem - and I'm sure SA is getting its fair share of it!!!

Fortunately, nobody is above the law, as Infineon has just discovered:

http://www.theregister.com/2004/09/15/infineon_pricefix_fine/

They recently had to pay a $160 million fine to the US Govt for memory price fixing!

My only worry? If Vodacom, MTN & CellC are caught doing this, we as comsumers will feel the 'brunt' in the end by coughing up the money for the fines....

[LethalChicken]

The problem here I think is that the government has it's fingers in the telecoms providers therefore it would never do anything to hurt them, and also none of our providers are TRULY independent ...

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

[kingrob]

I still yearn for the day when the comsumer in SA will be king and we will have true competition between ALL companies in SA... but I think we're light years away from that day.

Unfortunately we've got a history of monopolies and the mindset that goes with it.

[billybobwoolmer]

Customers are king in places where there is decent competition, so that makes us the court jester in good old SA

ANI4ANI

[James]

There should be a free telco act where by if I have enough money to offer a fixed line service i should be able to apply for a licence and it should be granted, unless valid reasons are given. It is the biggest load i have ever heard about a SNO whoopdy whoop, a 2nd operator. The rest of the world must be laughing at us, essecially at Telkom who feels they are a globally competitive company.

There is no peace without war!!!

[onionpeel]

South Africa is heading for a rip off State of non compliance. Most businesses are trying to rip off the consumer, people avoding tax, corruption and so forth. The SNO could turn out be one big white elephant, loaded with BEE stuff. USALs are going to rip off many more people - people that CAN'T afford top be ripped off, while filling the pockets of a few.

[freeek]

"Nexus"

Thats a damn stupid company. They causing just problems. They have the smallest share and are plainly not the smartest company. They awarded their share because they are Empowerment Company. They should just be kicked out and all allow the SNO to move forward. They should face their problems as they come along.

..- dot dot dash ;)

[freeek]

maybe Telcrap might even be causing problems within the SNO through Nexus bribery?

..- dot dot dash ;)

[Strobemeister]

Price-fixing is not unique to our beloved SA. It occurs in most countries. The primary difference between these "developed" countries and us is that they have regulatory bodies, "watchdog"-type bodies that monitor industry for these nefarious practices.

We have a lame-duck version of this, which makes all the difference, and ensures that this practice will continue here.


Telkom - South Africa's Handbrake to progress.

[BTTB]

I think the Minister of Communications can set up a process to discuss a Third Network Operator ASAP.
IMO, this time offer a 50% or perhaps 51% holding to an overseas company like AT%T. This will bring real competition.
This process should get underway immediately with deadlines set for middle of next year. You will soon see the Lame Ducks in the SNO and the Fat Cats in Telkom start to move their behinds.

Competition is good. It keeps everyone on their toes.


<b><hr noshade size="1"></b><font size="2"><font color="red"><b>You can take Telkom out of the Post Office but you can't take the Post Office out of Telkom.</b></font id="red"></font id="size2">

[Karnaugh]

Why bother, Telecoms is compleatly deregulated next year anyway. anyone can provide fixed lines.

- Colin Alston
colin@slipgate.za.net

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

[CreepyCrawley]

I'm not entirely sure about that. Otherwise that means that some overseas co like eg. AT&T or BT could come over here and set up shop with no worries. It would mean that the SNO would have been a fairly pointless exercise. I don't think the telecoms deregulation is gonna be *that* complete.

Telkom se ma...

[Karnaugh]

well thats what the bill says.

- Colin Alston
colin@slipgate.za.net

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

[WretchedToadll]

IF ONLY !!!!!!

WretchedToad [:D]

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by BTTB</i>
<br />I think the Minister of Communications can set up a process to discuss a Third Network Operator ASAP.
IMO, this time offer a 50% or perhaps 51% holding to an overseas company like AT%T. This will bring real competition.
This process should get underway immediately with deadlines set for middle of next year. You will soon see the Lame Ducks in the SNO and the Fat Cats in Telkom start to move their behinds.

Competition is good. It keeps everyone on their toes.


<b><hr noshade size="1"></b><font size="2"><font color="red"><b>You can take Telkom out of the Post Office but you can't take the Post Office out of Telkom.</b></font id="red"></font id="size2">
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">