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2005-01-10/WBS's R400m Internet plan
- Thread starter ic
- Start date
<IMO>
Very good news I think, but I challenge WBS on the "affordable Internet connectivity", the current WBS package options are too pricy for everyone- but what can WBS do except to follow Telkom's overpricing example?
Rolling out broadband everywhere (not just "townships") will do more good in less time than the current version of the ICT Charter.
</IMO>Rolling out broadband everywhere (not just "townships") will do more good in less time than the current version of the ICT Charter.
Spamtheman
Senior Member
yes, mine.
lewstherin
Senior Member
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lol at spam
lmao @ Spam
Yeah, WBS will do more than Telkom has. But affordability is the issue. I cant see you average township household spending more than R200 a month on internet & definately wont have capital for modems.
Most of them are concerned about food and essentials. Though im sure there is a market it will not be a high paying market. (this might be to the suburb users advantage)
Yeah, WBS will do more than Telkom has. But affordability is the issue. I cant see you average township household spending more than R200 a month on internet & definately wont have capital for modems.
Most of them are concerned about food and essentials. Though im sure there is a market it will not be a high paying market. (this might be to the suburb users advantage)
Stepper: I haven't been in Soweto for at least 12 years, I'm sure things have improved a lot for most residents, yes?
How many people now have access to a computer either in their homes or nearby- schools etc?
How many people now have access to a computer either in their homes or nearby- schools etc?
Duh...Razer0 said:townships have computers?
ic, Im my block(never mind the street) we have about 6 ppl with PCs excluding me with 2. So in general I think there is a ratio (guessing) of 1 pc in 20 houses. Although the Computer literacy and awareness is a bit higher now but affordability is still the problem.
I can only speak abt the deep Soweto not sure of middle-class ppl of Diepkloof surely the ratio is a bit higher here, with their kids in private and former Model-C schools in the leafy northern suburbs of Jozi.
To some extent it has for some, while others it became bad as most of their employers left the country (in anticipation of an ungovernable country) and these people were semi-skilled (i hate this word(s)) so they cant be hired elsewhere. So is there an improvement in gerenal ?: NOic said:
With all the replies or the views of members of the forum on this thread, then I'm not surprised with the treatment I got from some ppl @ Matrix warehouse in Edenvale yesterday. A guy from Soweto is still seen as a hikacker,
tsotsi, mugger, rapist, beggar & a general lowlife scumbag! (Not in any particular order)
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Ok, but what about schools, libraries, Internet Cafes?stepper said:
Basically, I'm trying to establish whether or not things are improving WRT access to PCs & Internet. When I was in high school we didn't have PCs (I'm not that ancient that they hadn't been invented yet), and only 1 of my friends had a PC - he lived quite far away.
Affordability is the key to progress, if young South Africans are exposed to PCs & the Internet before entering the job market they will have a much better chance of succeeding.
If I'm not mistaken the 50% discount on ISP / Internet Connectivity Fees for Schools etc should now be in effect (last few days), which will hopefully start opening doors for Internet-eracy & positive progress.
<PS>
MyADSL is an Internet Community - Stepper this is your community too!!! Your participation & membership of MyADSL is valued 
As you know, I have some strong views WRT certain people in government & BEE & recently ICT Charter, but I do favour post-apartheid - perhaps I could hit my mute button, the reason I don't is bcos there are people here who will set me straight, which is great.
Moral of story: if you disagree with anything that I or any other member of MyADSL says do what you just did - don't take it personally, instead set us straight.
</PS>As you know, I have some strong views WRT certain people in government & BEE & recently ICT Charter, but I do favour post-apartheid - perhaps I could hit my mute button, the reason I don't is bcos there are people here who will set me straight, which is great.
Moral of story: if you disagree with anything that I or any other member of MyADSL says do what you just did - don't take it personally, instead set us straight.
sybawoods
Expert Member
stepper said:Duh...
ic, Im my block(never mind the street) we have about 6 ppl with PCs excluding me with 2. So in general I think there is a ratio (guessing) of 1 pc in 20 houses. Although the Computer literacy and awareness is a bit higher now but affordability is still the problem.
Well, speaking for Cape Town: my bro and I ran a community Computer Literacy programme from our folks' home on the Cape Flats targeting predominantly working class communities including the townships of Langa / Nyanga / Gugs, and Bonteheuwel, Manenberg, Athlone, Hanover Park, Bishop Lavis and you will be amazed at the lengths that poverty stricken working class parents go to, to give their kids access to some form of computer (and internet) literacy. I'd say about 1 in 10 kids who came through our programme had regular PC access, and about 1 in 20 to internet access. This was as recent as about 2-3 years ago. Many township schools were starting to reap the benefits of corporate outreach programmes that were sponsoring computer labs at schools.
The need is huge, and I for one take my hat off to any initiative that recognizes the market, and attempts to service the need.
On a related note, i.m.h.o., TELKOM (and by proxy, the State) should hang their heads in shame for neglecting and exploiting this market, at least as far as affordable telecoms goes. It should be right up their with running water, if we are serious about staking our place in the global economy.
hArTh
Expert Member
sybawoods said:
Amen brother. All school, tech and varsity students should have a RIGHT to 64 kbps net access at less than R50 pm all inclusive. And those families whose gross income cant even cover this should get it free.
SW, excellent, good on ya 
Back to this thread's topic - WBS - it would help WBS' stated cause/intentions if they could supply a lot of PCs to go with the Internet connectivity.
The same goes for Sentech with their 2 haven't-decided-if-we-can-profit-enough Soweto towers - supply the computers first.
I suspect that people would be happy to have access to PCs with a Linux distro loaded (versus expensive Windoze), OpenOffice, etc - in an official language that will promote & accelerate Computer Literacy & develop the skills that are needed to bridge the gap in the ICT sector.
I am probably out of line for suggesting this, but I think we should highlight the problem of too few PCs being available - after all who is going to use broadband if the computers aren't available...
Back to this thread's topic - WBS - it would help WBS' stated cause/intentions if they could supply a lot of PCs to go with the Internet connectivity.
The same goes for Sentech with their 2 haven't-decided-if-we-can-profit-enough Soweto towers - supply the computers first.
I suspect that people would be happy to have access to PCs with a Linux distro loaded (versus expensive Windoze), OpenOffice, etc - in an official language that will promote & accelerate Computer Literacy & develop the skills that are needed to bridge the gap in the ICT sector.
I am probably out of line for suggesting this, but I think we should highlight the problem of too few PCs being available - after all who is going to use broadband if the computers aren't available...
Affordability is the problem, anyone got stats on the the income per capita for Soweto?
Just had a quick chat with a collegue of mine who resides in Diepkloof, he has seconded what stepper noted adding that about 6/10 households in Diepkloof have computer access. I asked him what he would be willing to pay for always on connectivity and he said R150 a month, speed not being a issue for him. (R150, thats what we should be paying)
So I asked the next question, what do you think is needed to boost Internet usage in Soweto, the answer was simple..... education. He seconded what I said earlier about essentials be more important than luxuries.
He suggested offering free Internet stations/cafes in the townships to promote usage and educate the population on its value.
Just had a quick chat with a collegue of mine who resides in Diepkloof, he has seconded what stepper noted adding that about 6/10 households in Diepkloof have computer access. I asked him what he would be willing to pay for always on connectivity and he said R150 a month, speed not being a issue for him. (R150, thats what we should be paying)
So I asked the next question, what do you think is needed to boost Internet usage in Soweto, the answer was simple..... education. He seconded what I said earlier about essentials be more important than luxuries.
He suggested offering free Internet stations/cafes in the townships to promote usage and educate the population on its value.
stepper said:With all the replies or the views of members of the forum on this thread, then I'm not surprised with the treatment I got from some ppl @ Matrix warehouse in Edenvale yesterday. A guy from Soweto is still seen as a hikacker,
Stepper, If I was you I would take my business somewhere where it is appreciated. You should not have to tolerate indifference
FireFLi
Senior Member
If it's any consolation stepper I won't be giving them any of my business.
Schools: have pcs but most of them dont have internet accessic said:
Libraries: I think there are abt 7 libraries in the whole of Soweto, the PCs I've seen are those used by the librarian.
Internet Cafes: Ridiculous prices (ZAR 15 to 20 for 30 mins), most ppl go to Braamfontein internet cafes than the ones in Soweto.
Point taken.ic said:
Done!alchamy said:
FireFLi said:
Ta!
A whole lot of question...
In the case of schools that do have PCs without Internet Connectivity, is this due to Telkom not having the infrastructure in place, or is the infrastructure there now but it is too expensive, or a mixture of both cases? What other factors outside of infrastructure & cost of using Telkom come into play?
How about Internet Cafes - are they physically close to any of the libraries?
What line/connection do Internet Cafes use at the moment?
AFAIK Telkom have failed/refused to provide ADSL in the "townships", correct?
(I don't like using the word townships - it belongs in the past).
Is it because of Telkom that it is too expensive to use Soweto's Internet Cafes?
Do you think Internet Cafe owners know about WBS and iBurst yet?
What message do you think WBS needs to hear?
Ok, I'm not 100% clear on this, due all schools have PCs that are available for scholars to use, or do some schools have PCs and others don't?stepper said:
In the case of schools that do have PCs without Internet Connectivity, is this due to Telkom not having the infrastructure in place, or is the infrastructure there now but it is too expensive, or a mixture of both cases? What other factors outside of infrastructure & cost of using Telkom come into play?
Ok, so basically there are 0 PCs available for the public to use at Soweto libraries, that is not even taking into account internet connectivity.stepper said:
How about Internet Cafes - are they physically close to any of the libraries?
Ok, I assume this is not a case of profiteering on the part of the Internet Cafe owners, yes?stepper said:
What line/connection do Internet Cafes use at the moment?
AFAIK Telkom have failed/refused to provide ADSL in the "townships", correct?
(I don't like using the word townships - it belongs in the past).
Is it because of Telkom that it is too expensive to use Soweto's Internet Cafes?
Do you think Internet Cafe owners know about WBS and iBurst yet?
What message do you think WBS needs to hear?
arf9999
MyBroadband Member
Here is some news on the GautengOnline schools program. Seems that it is not going so well.
http://tinyurl.com/5lbh3
Of the 1100 schools provided, how many would have done it for themselves anyhow? I mean are they including the so-called model C and private schools in this number?
http://tinyurl.com/5lbh3
Of the 1100 schools provided, how many would have done it for themselves anyhow? I mean are they including the so-called model C and private schools in this number?
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Gauteng Online (partnership between Sahara SA & Sentech) is providing PCs and connectivity to schools that are chosen by Gauteng Edu. Dept as deserving (dont know the criteria). Some schools fundraise on their own for PCs, in this case connectivity is out of the question (most schools like homes in Soweto use Telkom PrePaid service to curb costs).ic said:
Same point I've raised above applies here aswell. I would a mixture of both cases.ic said:
Internet Cafes are not that many and certainly not close to libraries.ic said:
Profiteering: Everybody wants to make money. I can't answer that to your satisfaction (lets leave it like that).
Line/Connection used is 56k dialup and ISDN2a. I know one that uses iBurst.
I dont think residents even consider it as an option (R1000+ pm) is too much. So I wouldn't blame telkom in this instance.ic said:
YESic said:
Sure they do, the problem is not many customers left for them to use it profitably, unless WBS offer them the service at reasonable prices for them aswell to reduce their prices.ic said: