Broadband Drive in SA

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beyers

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As the 5th most popular website in South Africa, I think that MyADSL is in a position to help change the broadband scene in SA.

Broadband in SA should be accessible to ordinary South Africans from a wide range of income groups. We all know that you can get brilliant broadband in the UK for 18 pounds, or about R200 per month.

Without the same kind of pricing in SA, we will never be able to compete with those countries. With the current pricing, ordinary citizens cannot afford to get broadband.

What is needed, IMO, is a popular drive for broadband access in SA. The people to lead this drive is MyADSL. The approach that may be successful is the following:
<ul><li>Make broadband accessible to lower income groups by a fairer pricing structure </li><li>Advance our economy significantly with wider broadband, always on, internet (make us more competitive internationally) </li><li>we must set an aim, i.e. 50%, 75% or whatever ADSL coverage for SA within 5 years </li></ul>

We must help to popularise broadband to show Telkom, and the new SNO that ADSL is not only for an elite group, who are prepared to pay. But it is something that ordinary South Africans need and want at a fair price. By following a kind of populist approach ("broadband for the lower income groups"), we may also get support from Government, and succeed in lowering prices for all [:D]

A campaign such as this can also be excellent in terms of timing and tactics ... because of the introduction of a second SNO etc, prices may fall in any case, and then it looks as if <b>we</b> did it! [^]
 
We should start by getting Telkom to provide uncapped ADSL to schools, especially the lower income schools, as this will expose vast amounts of up and coming job seekers to email, web based research etc. 99% of these people would never have access to a PC at home and if they did, could not afford Telkom prices. Most schools these days have some type of computer lab, and many on this forum, myself included, would be happy to assist the schools in setting up a mail server etc to give each kid their own email. Even if Telkom give a 50% discount on a capped service the schools could not afford it. We are being ripped off for line rental, I would feel a bit better about it if that money were used to provide ADSL to schools rather than a 4x4 to another fat cat.

Cheers
Chris
 
...libraries, community organisations/centres other educational institutions too.
 
what about discounts for comunity networks ...

set up a no charge wifi mesh network subsidised by local goverment as happened else where
 
Yes I agree. The thing is, <i><b>we</b></i> know what a boost widespread broadband availability will give to our economy, but <i><b>they</b></i> dont, and we must tell them. We must create "broadband awareness" in the community, but also in Government. I don't know how many members of parliament have ADSL. Not many I think. We must get them to get broadband, and encourage them to get broadband for everyone in the country at reasonable prices.

The "lower income" man on the street must start demanding broadband at reasonable prices. We must point out to them what miserable lives they are leading with dial-up internet, and what heavenly lives they can live with broadband, always on.

I am sure we will get sponsors and partners for such a Drive.
 
This all sounds awesome, however, if everyone is to get fairly priced broadband, we are going to need to open up SAT-3. With Telkom charging such a huge amount to access it, and not using its full capabilities, there is no way that affordable broadband can become a reality.

We have succeeded in getting VOIP, etc. but our new objective should be to get Telkom to free up SAT-3.

Chow, Nick

Nick Smit
broadband@nicksmit dot za dot net
 
Caroper, reech, loosecannon

Now that you mention these specific areas like schools, libraries etc, I think that a Broadband Drive, where we push for these things, will have <b><u>major</u></b> public support.

We will also strike the headlines. For this project it is of utmost importance to get regular media attention, and we will be able to get it. Each time a library, school or some other community cries out for affordable broadband, we will be in the news as part of our Broadband Drive.
 
Yes Nickste, so let them open it! But they will have to be pressurized [:)] We must "create" and forge a wide public demand, and they must open it, or be told to open it to satisfy the masses.



<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by Nickste</i>
<br />This all sounds awesome, however, if everyone is to get fairly priced broadband, we are going to need to open up SAT-3. With Telkom charging such a huge amount to access it, and not using its full capabilities, there is no way that affordable broadband can become a reality.

We have succeeded in getting VOIP, etc. but our new objective should be to get Telkom to free up SAT-3.

Chow, Nick

Nick Smit
broadband@nicksmit dot za dot net
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">
 
Good suggestions Beyers.

<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">
 
see: http://www.myadsl.co.za/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=4331&SearchTerms=international
 
Hi Beyers

An excellent suggestion indeed. I will start with a press release soon… We can then contact all the relevant organizations, but one has to keep in mind that the landscape will change after February next year. I think general issues should now be mentioned (like a reduction in cost) until we are certain about effects the new policy changes will have.

This threat is similar to http://www.myadsl.co.za/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=4846 and it will be great if members can give their views in both threads!

Regards,


RPM
[email protected]
 
Good idea Beyers.

But I think Telkom will just dismiss as 'a bunch of white elitest' groups, who think they can do what they want[}:)]
 
I'm afraid I disagree Dominic Rooney. If the press gets to this, Telkom will need a better excuse than: "a bunch of white elitest' groups, who think they can do what they want"

Nick Smit
broadband@nicksmit dot za dot net
 
Dominic Rooney. What kind of white elitist will try to benefit the lower income groups by lobbying for cheaper broadband access for them? I think that argument will not be effective.

What they will say, will most probably be a repetition of their initial reply to MyADSL (about a year ago). They will again say that we are just a small, neglegible group of disgruntled users. Until we get mass news coverage and support from ordinary citizens (Telkom customers)... Then they will change their tune.

Or maybe they have learnt that it is better to work with us, rather than against us.
 
Well for your info, if you in CT, there was a debate about TableView Security watches. The Security MEC, Leonard Ramatlakane said that it's very 'elitest' to have neighbourhood watches.

And I can assure you that it has LOTS of media coverage.
 
Reminds me of when the SABC wanted to stop broadcasting F1 because it was an "elitist sport". Seems to be the current regime's policy to label anything it doesn't want to provide/support as elitist. Must be their new favourite word.

Telkom se ma...
 
Ok I see your point, but I don't think that will be their line against us. It wasn't up to now, and it could just as well be. But yes, you are correct that we must be ready for such malicious accusations. [:)]
 
PPP's or PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS are the way to go the problem with the tableview watch it seems is that its an agreement with a local authority with no structured contract.
If you look at the way the new drive in gov is for PPP's then it actually becomes a good idea. for example you set up an internet cafes in local municipality schools you enter into a ppp agreement with the gov after they usually do a feasibility study to see if the service that you are providing is beneficial to the community they will decide whether to actually buy over the service from you. Oh you dont pay out of your own pocket for the installation the gov gives you a service payment if im not incorrect.

This could be a very good way to roll out broadband.
ill see if i can track the official gov gazette over ppp's

Proud South african rip offs.
 
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