2010 'information blackout'

Spurred by the release of a report last week that found SA needs 70 500 networking professionals just to fill current vacancies in the market
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Uhm, how about hiring back those 30,000+ employees Telkom retrenched??
As the 2006 FIFA World Cup went off without any technical hitches in Germany, the information technology industry (IT) in SA is ringing alarm bells about whether it will be as hassle-free when the country hosts the sporting spectacle in 2010.
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I'm not surprised it went down so well for Germany. They started major investing in cummunication and networking looong before the World Cup. We have less than 4 years to exceed (not meet) the standards set by the Germans (SA mechanics have trouble fixing complex faults in German cars, so I'm not too optimistic), yet we still have trouble getting basic telephony rolled out to the masses - let alone maintain and support it.
The President is very vocal towards "those negative induviduals in South Africa" in his speeches. He either does not realise, or is misinformed (like so many corporate Execs), about the state of national communications in his country (business).
But alas, the World Cup will take place here, weather all the failures and misachievements gets blamed on Telkom/Apartheid/Goverment or not.
 
One finds it hard to believe that the head of a nation can be so ignorant of the situation. I think he is either very optimistic and believes in his staff, or he is lying through his teeth and denying.
 
lcbxx said:
The President is very vocal towards "those negative induviduals in South Africa" in his speeches. He either does not realise, or is misinformed (like so many corporate Execs), about the state of national communications in his country (business).
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Well how often is he here to experience it and what are the chances he has a 512 ADSL line and 3gb cap at home that he actually pays for himself?
 
Origin248 said:
One finds it hard to believe that the head of a nation can be so ignorant of the situation. I think he is either very optimistic and believes in his staff, or he is lying through his teeth and denying.
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Well, oddly there are people on this forum who are also blatantly ignorant of the huge challenges lying ahead. So this ignorance is at every level, but it being at the top as well is very worrying indeed
 
Look, I understand the Mr. Mbeki has to save face for the sake of his country. And Mr. Mbeki is a good charmer of people, that’s undeniable. Don't get me wrong, I'm not one of those wishing that SA loses the 2010 WC. I'm just sick of all the beautiful words and empty promises spoken by everyone involved in the 2010 WC planning every time someone from the media points a Camera/Microphone at them.

SA is FAR from ready, yet Organisers are all already celebrating like buffoons. No one has (or wants to) picked up a spade to start the preparations. They plan like there is no tomorrow, drawing up flow charts, creating lavish PowerPoint slide shows, choreographing dance moves on stage in Germany, yet nothing of consequence has materialised on South African soil.
I just hope that at the end of the day when the party with all the free drinks and cocktail pies are finished, we don't stand with our heads hung is shame as FIFA quietly realises the truth and shoves the WC off to Australia - who are way ahead with their backup plans.
 
AntiThesis said:
Germany = First world, first class
SA = not

Simple really.
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Agreed, but aren't you sick of everyone blaming our "3rd World Developing Country" status for everything? Especially telecoms. Telkom buys their routers and switches from the same place Germany does, yet we can't offer the same serivce levels.
 
lcbxx said:
Agreed, but aren't you sick of everyone blaming our "3rd World Developing Country" status for everything? Especially telecoms. Telkom buys their routers and switches from the same place Germany does, yet we can't offer the same serivce levels.
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Telkom can offer the same service levels, but won't make the money it is then. Telkom is run by money hungry greedy super zealots, and they will milk the consumers for as long as they possibly can. The difference is that in first world countries, monopolies are not tollerated too well - especially of late thanks to Microsoft's antics over the past decade or so. Telkom is using the slowness of African Bureacracy to its advantage and thereby keeping its monopoly in place, albeit thanks mostly to gvt's inability to regulate properly.
 
kingmonty said:
The difference is that in first world countries, monopolies are not tollerated too well - especially of late thanks to Microsoft's antics over the past decade or so. Telkom is using the slowness of African Bureacracy to its advantage and thereby keeping its monopoly in place, albeit thanks mostly to gvt's inability to regulate properly.
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In first world coutries, companies like Telkom won't even be allowed to open shop, let alone sell chappies for R8.50 (plus 99c if it comes in a wrapper!) with a 3 bubble-blow cap!
 
We were the first country in the world to have digital exchanges (EWSD), strange how we were better than first world countries then, but fell way behind since then. The difference is competition, we have none, so no companies trying to outperform each other. In Germany ISDN is standard, you have to ask for a analog line. Telkom still treats ISDN as a "new" technology.
 
oooo! i smell the gravy train comming!!! :D
 
We were the first country in the world to have digital exchanges (EWSD), strange how we were better than first world countries then, but fell way behind since then. The difference is competition, we have none, so no companies trying to outperform each other. In Germany ISDN is standard, you have to ask for a analog line. Telkom still treats ISDN as a "new" technology.
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Too true.. Nod, you must have worked for Telkom at some stage? Am I right? You correctly named the exchange type (EWSD) and yes, the first digital one was Sunninghill Park in Rivonia.
 
JTech said:
Too true.. Nod, you must have worked for Telkom at some stage? Am I right?
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Hey don't descriminate! If the Telkom-BCX deal goes through, I'll be working for them too!! :eek: :eek:
 
Hey lcbxx, what do the rank and file in BCX feel about the takeover? Are they planning to stick around or look elsewhere?
 
Don't expect to hear from the gov about this

Those in power are obsessed with two things: in private, with lining their own pockets and in public, with racial quotas. Never mind getting the job done, are we empowered yet?

2010 World Cup has all the signs of another African disaster in the making. It's just like the Gautrain, only bigger.
 
Skip said:
Hey lcbxx, what do the rank and file in BCX feel about the takeover? Are they planning to stick around or look elsewhere?
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Feelings are mixed about what the future holds. As far as technological oppertunity goes, Telkom is almost godsend, especially for network engineers within BCX. Some people have left, fearing possible retrenchment which Telkom is renowned for, especially new or young emlpoyees, but most are sticking around to see how things play out - like me for example. I think it would be interesting to finally see inside the belly of the beast with some form or immunity, weather it be a false sense of security or not!
 
Greetings to everyone, my first post here...

I would just liketo ask a question with regards to this article, in it they talk about Cisco creditation. I would love to study Cisco systems but am having difficulty in finding area's that either A: Offer it and B: If they do offer it, then they must be supported by the banks for a loan. Can anyone here point me in the right direction?

With regards to the article. I think that unless SA jacks up we are going to have huge problems, I mean we cant even offer *free* wireless connection points, let alone affordable uncapped broadband...
 
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Anakha56 said:
Greetings to everyone, my first post here...

I would just liketo ask a question with regards to this article, in it they talk about Cisco creditation. I would love to study Cisco systems but am having difficulty in finding area's that either A: Offer it and B: If they do offer it, then they must be supported by the banks for a loan. Can anyone here point me in the right direction?
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there are a couple of places in Durban that must do it. but like you say.. you need a bank loan to do the course.
I would also love to do it but my bank manager fired me a long time ago.
how do the expect the masses to do it when the well off can hardly afford it.

oh yeah... welcome to the forum

Anakha56 said:
I mean we cant even offer *free* wireless connection points...
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yes we do but just no internet :cool:
 
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