DotCo versus Telkom, Round Two

[kilo39]

For those of you who don't know, When telkom started offering ADSL they allowed the reseller ISP's to cap accounts anywhere upto the point of 30gig's of traffic (We've been through this before, but it's clear that a refresher is needed)

All bow down and Hail Telkom the Great - who in its infinite monopolistic wisdom can set rates, caps, and the price of your breakfast cereal.

 

[toxictech]

I'm happy with the delays... suits me perfect... cruising around with a 30GB cap... Thanks Dotco Kick some lame telkom ass!

 

[moosag]

Good Luck DotCo ! All the Best

 

[Bona Botse]

ixhd, i dont think dotco would have taken telkom to court if they broke clear rules. theres clearly an agreement that dotco had/has with telkom to resell 30gB accounts or something like that, else telkom wouldnt keep stalling the case

 

[kaspaas]

What happens if you loose the court case?
You will have to pay Telkom for all the back dated accounts on the per gig structure? (That would be enough to bankrupt most small countries, and certainly put you out of business)

If Dotco goes bust Telkom will most probably not see much of the fees in arrears (if the court rules in Telkom's favour).

I trust nobody signed surity in his/her personal capacity...

 

[nGAGEd55]

ixhd, AFAIK Dotco sold uncapped accounts, then telkom wasnt happy, so they set up an agreement whereby they would limit the usage to 30GB, now telkom went and intoduced per gig billing, and broke the agreement they had with Dotco, and this is what the court case is all about, not that they originaly offered uncapped accounts.

 

[Sneeky]

I'm no lady. And you are no gentleman.

x 1000

wned
edit: give em hell Dotco, at least some isp has big metal dangly bits to take on the beast.

 

[allyoucaneat]

What happens if you loose the court case?
You will have to pay Telkom for all the back dated accounts on the per gig structure?

Welcome to MyADSL ixhd.

That is not a given. That will be another matter for another court case perhaps. And one that Telkom will have to institute.

But lets look on the bright side. What would you say will be the influence of the draft ADSL regulation, the imminent SNO wholesale operations and the outcome of this case be on the broadband landscape?

Basicly Telkom had it's last chance to influence ADSL (as a monopoly). Hopefully it has enough of the ISPs in longterm contracts now and it has squeezed out any more competition out of the market. Especially those juicy IPC contracts. No ISP with IPC would mos ever want to have lower ADSL retail cost. They are already thinly margin squeezed as it is. ISPs with IPC is betting that ADSL will become more expensive. And their christmas wish came true when Father Telkom put usage based billing under the tree last year.

I wonder what the Easter bunny is bringing us ...

 

[pimal3]

@ixhd

Welcome to the forum. I take it that you are the official Telkom representative that Papi promised.

 

[BTTB]

@ixhd

Welcome to the forum. I take it that you are the official Telkom representative that Papi promised.

ROFL

Had we perhaps had a Telkom Rep, he may have made sense as far as this situation is concerned, as I am losing the plot here.
Uncapped/30Gb/No 30GB/Per GB Billing/3Gb Telkom Accounts that can do 30Gb.
What is it? Huh. How must Joe/Mary Soap know what the heck is going on?

 

[allyoucaneat]

My point has nothing to do with your current pricing and capping policies, but that you felt it was ok to violate the rules (albeit Telkom's rules, but rules that were VERY clearly stated) in the first place.

What rules are you referring to? It feels like you told me something important and I was not listening. "Now listen here: this is the rules ...". "Yes sir. May I have some more".

Rule 1: http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showpost.php?p=464881&postcount=14

Principle 1: http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showpost.php?p=464892&postcount=15

 

[Peter7]

DotCo for the win!!!!!! You guys should start an ISP association , especially with SA consumers interests at heart.

Maan this is going to cause chaos if they win, and the consumer is bound to benefit from it. Wooohhoooo!!!

 

[MaD]

but that you felt it was ok to violate the rules (albeit Telkom's rules, but rules that were VERY clearly stated) in the first place.

How, exactly, do you know what the 'rules' were?

Fact: You cannot know what the 'rules' were until you have read every ISPs contract with Telkom to offer higher GB accounts. They are all different so that if an ISP speaks out after Telkom says 'hey we didnt allow that' then they will know which ISP violated the NDA that accompanied each contract - and Telkom will then sue the ISP.

But if you knew what the 'rules' were then you knew that as well.

 

[Prometheus]

No witnesses were called to testify by Telkom although several Telkom representatives attended the court hearing.

Does Telkom have something to hide.

The case has now been adjourned until 16 May for closing arguments to be made by the parties’ legal representatives.

No government that cares about the interest of the public will drag out an issue of national importance for so long.

DotCo, you have my vote.
Is there any way to bribe a judge... Just a thought

 

[allyoucaneat]

Maybe Johann, would like to explain why he and his company are no longer members of the ISPA ?

DOTCO is a paid up member of ISPA. See the logo on our home page here: http://allyoucaneat.co.za. Also see the ISPA member list here on their web site: http://www.ispa.org.za/about/memberlist.shtml

It is well known that the management of ISPA and my company don't share the same vision. I'm hoping that they will come around and join the party.

@MaD, Most of the ISP's agreements with Telkoms are the same.
There are at the very least certain common elements amoungst them, one of which was the VERY CLEAR statement that from the start accounts were not to exceed 30gig's of usage.

I think you are smoking something good. Can you perhaps mention a few ISPs whos contracts you have seen? I think you operate on hearsay and a few white lies.

@Pimal3, Sadly no, Telkom again letting you down. No Representative.
I work in the industry and the main reason for my posting is to query Johann on a few things. DotCo might be fighting for consumer rights and so on, but in the process he has managed to piss off, most of the other South African ISP's, To the extent that he got kicked out of the ISPA. Regardless of wether he is right or not, I don't want someone who is hot headed "representing" what the "consumers" want.

It is not a popularity contest. If you are my business peer, I'm not your buddy. If I pissed you off, good. Do something about it. Don't just blow hot air anonymously in the forum. You risk being irrelavent.

 

[ettubrute]

I don't want someone who is hot headed "representing" what the "consumers" want.

Why not? At least it seems DotCo is the only ISP that know what we, the consumer, wants, namely: lots of Gigs, at affordable prices!

 

[antowan]

If only all the parties with cases took it up with Telkom at once it would be very good. Would make for some good media coverage. "Telecom giant swamped by largest number of suits in legal history!" would be great to read in a newspaper!

 

[pupa]

There already is an ISPA.
Maybe Johann, would like to explain why he and his company are no longer members of the ISPA ?

@MaD, Most of the ISP's agreements with Telkoms are the same.
There are at the very least certain common elements amoungst them, one of which was the VERY CLEAR statement that from the start accounts were not to exceed 30gig's of usage.

@Pimal3, Sadly no, Telkom again letting you down. No Representative.
I work in the industry and the main reason for my posting is to query Johann on a few things. DotCo might be fighting for consumer rights and so on, but in the process he has managed to piss off, most of the other South African ISP's, To the extent that he got kicked out of the ISPA. Regardless of wether he is right or not, I don't want someone who is hot headed "representing" what the "consumers" want.

Who the f@ct care what you want, we are the consumer and it seems to me the ISPA do not know that, they fight for the ISP rights, you fight for telkom rights. Nobody fight for the consumer rights! as proof is this mess we are in ATM and the prices we pay. You and your representation concerning the consumer is a farce to say the least.
We want hotheaded protection that has backbone to fight the Telkom and the GVT. You mean nothing then if you cannot fight for consumers and only have ISP rights in mind!

one of which was the VERY CLEAR statement that from the start accounts were not to exceed 30gig's of usage.

Then give it back to us, this was a good sytem you Backboneless ISP's and Telkom took away!

 

[pupa]

If only all the parties with cases took it up with Telkom at once it would be very good. Would make for some good media coverage. "Telecom giant swamped by largest number of suits in legal history!" would be great to read in a newspaper!

Antowan! this will never happen. I personally believe the ISPA and their members ie ISP's as well as the DOC and Icasa is in cahoots with TELKOM and fear Telkom can harm their bussiness! Via NDA or GVT or whatever. The consumer in this country stand on his own and are relient on the crumbs Telkom is prepared to give to protect his rotten empire

 

[ettubrute]

So when do we start a consumer association?