Sign up with GoogleWe see so many studies done on the price of ADSL in SA, but there are so many variables in services I've decided to do a quick study that compares apples with apples.
I've decided to pit BT against Telkom because:
they were both the incumbent government monopoly operators
both offer unshaped ADSL
both offer "soft" capped accounts
both give you a telephone line as well as ADSL
both offer contracts with a free modem[1]
Unfortunately a perfect study is impossible, as there are unavoidable differences:
BT no longer offers anything lower than 8MB down, so I will halve their prices to compare it with Telkom's 4MB service.
Telkom Internet only offers unshaped in 3 and 4GB vs. the 6GB offered by BT Option 2. 4GB is closer and better value, so I will compare with that. Again, I will subtract one third from BT's price to bring it in line.
BT does not offer month-to-month access, but discounts the first 3 months on a 12 month contract. I will compare the cost of 24 months of access [2].
I would also highlight the fact that Telkom's current 4MB service is a trial and may be discontinued at any time, but I'll ignore that for this study.
I will list Telkom first as there are a number of components to their cost that need to be added up. All final figures are for 24 months.
Telkom Telephone line rental: R 99.92 * 24 = R 2,398.08
Telkom 4MB ADSL line: R 516 * 24 = R 12,384
Telkom Internet 4GB Unshaped account: R 699 * 24 = R 16,776
BT Option 2 (for 24 months): £14.99 * 3 + £22.99 * 21 = £527.76
Halve that as it is an 8GB service: £263.88
And subtract another 1/3 to compare with 4GB cap: £175.92
Telkom 4GB unshaped service: R 31,558.08
British Telecom equivalent: R 2,494.77 (£1 = R14.1813)
I will divide everything by 24 again just to bring it back into a monthly cost perspective:
Telkom 4GB unshaped service: R 1,314.92
British Telecom equivalent: R 103.95
Wow. Even I didn't expect that much of a difference. I hope this puts an end to all the so-called "studies" and "committees".
Corrections and observations welcome. Have fun.
[1] - BT give you a free modem on a 12 month contract, Telkom on 24 months
[2] - It's the only way I can resolve the contract period discrepancy. Sorry!
I've decided to pit BT against Telkom because:
they were both the incumbent government monopoly operators
both offer unshaped ADSL
both offer "soft" capped accounts
both give you a telephone line as well as ADSL
both offer contracts with a free modem[1]
Unfortunately a perfect study is impossible, as there are unavoidable differences:
BT no longer offers anything lower than 8MB down, so I will halve their prices to compare it with Telkom's 4MB service.
Telkom Internet only offers unshaped in 3 and 4GB vs. the 6GB offered by BT Option 2. 4GB is closer and better value, so I will compare with that. Again, I will subtract one third from BT's price to bring it in line.
BT does not offer month-to-month access, but discounts the first 3 months on a 12 month contract. I will compare the cost of 24 months of access [2].
I would also highlight the fact that Telkom's current 4MB service is a trial and may be discontinued at any time, but I'll ignore that for this study.
I will list Telkom first as there are a number of components to their cost that need to be added up. All final figures are for 24 months.
Telkom Telephone line rental: R 99.92 * 24 = R 2,398.08
Telkom 4MB ADSL line: R 516 * 24 = R 12,384
Telkom Internet 4GB Unshaped account: R 699 * 24 = R 16,776
BT Option 2 (for 24 months): £14.99 * 3 + £22.99 * 21 = £527.76
Halve that as it is an 8GB service: £263.88
And subtract another 1/3 to compare with 4GB cap: £175.92
Telkom 4GB unshaped service: R 31,558.08
British Telecom equivalent: R 2,494.77 (£1 = R14.1813)
I will divide everything by 24 again just to bring it back into a monthly cost perspective:
Telkom 4GB unshaped service: R 1,314.92
British Telecom equivalent: R 103.95
Wow. Even I didn't expect that much of a difference. I hope this puts an end to all the so-called "studies" and "committees".
Corrections and observations welcome. Have fun.
[1] - BT give you a free modem on a 12 month contract, Telkom on 24 months
[2] - It's the only way I can resolve the contract period discrepancy. Sorry!
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