How would you reduce telecoms prices?

Do you support the PCC’s proposal to cut interconnect rates?

  • Yes

    Votes: 98 96.1%

  • No

    Votes: 4 3.9%
  • Total voters
    102
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How would you cut telecoms prices?

Parliament invites the public to submit written submissions on measures to reduce interconnection rates and the high costs of telecoms in SA.

The PCC's interconnect proposal:

  1. mobile and telecoms operators drop the interconnection rates with effect from 1 November 2009 to 60 cents per minute during peak times;
  2. interconnection rates be further reduced by 15 cents annually on the 1 November for each successive year until 2012; and
  3. as a general rule the progressive reductions in interconnection rates between 2009 and 2012 should yield concomitant reductions in the actual consumer (retail) prices of telecommunications
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
Cool.

Mine is :

1. Open the local loop
2. Fire the lot at Icasa and get competent people
3. Encourage competition
4. Monitor the situation, and step only in when neccessary


edit : will think it over before sending it off... :)
 
We all know how this thread will play out; some will complain and others will actually be constructive. From the get-go, let's put our suggestions on (digital) paper and (after having the ideas proofread), send it out to parliament.
 
The_Librarian said:
Cool.

Mine is :

1. Open the local loop
2. Fire the lot at Icasa and get competent people
3. Encourage competition
4. Monitor the situation, and step only in when neccessary
Click to expand...

Libs, for the sake of the layman (read: parliament), could you elaborate how the above steps are cost-cutting mechanisms?
 
Let everybody comment on this topic and then copy/paste all the best and constructive post's to compile a MyBB forum submissions and submit it to them
 
The long:

1. Per suggestions above.
2. Get rid of that pricing basket. Products should be evaluated separately.
3. Put a moratorium on price increases for a 3 year period.
4. Make price decreases one of the ICASA performance indicators AND make more than 50% of annual renumeration dependent on it.

The short:

Q: How would you reduce telecoms prices?
A: By decree.
 
tco21 said:
Libs, for the sake of the layman (read: parliament), could you elaborate how the above steps are cost-cutting mechanisms?
Click to expand...

have you read my complete post? :)

that was just a quick jot of ideas - I will try to expand on it later.
 
Yeah, was just trying to get the ball rolling.

In any case, I would implement an independent (not independent as in ICASA) body to investigate possible collusion among the key industry players.
 
1) Focus on Data instead of voice.
2) Reduce Data prices instead of voice.
3) Did I mention Data being more important than voice ?
 
1. ICASA should regulate not formulate the industry (i.e open everything up, and let competition sort out the weak from the strong).
2. Government should put in place some kind of policy that would force ICASA to have both technical and law knowledgeable members.
3. LLU asap (as said before)
4. Telkom should be split into operator, network infrastructure and now mobile companies, with no relation between the three.
 
1. Simplify and Clarify the licensing requirements / regulations, so that no doubt exists as to what license is required to provide a specific service / product.
2. Establish a visible and transparent tool that is used to market under-serviced areas, at the same time, provide visible and transparent facts regarding the serviced areas.
3. Completely remove licensing cost stumbling blocks in under-serviced areas. Consider providing tax incentives.
4. Remove barriers that prevent fair competition using regulations.
5. Create customer protection regulation that is partitioned by product that protects the client from abusive practices on the product level.

This approach will clear up the confusion that prevents new competition from being introduced, while also regulates based on customer protection, so that new entrants to the industry can get a clear picture of exactly what it is they must provide.
 
Government should spend a few billion of our hard-earned tax money on a national fibre transit network that is leased free except for a maintenance cost to anyone with a network licence. This will chew away at that "70%" cost component all the local ISPs are complaining about. The USA can offer such cheap internet, because of the many fibre networks that were paid for by the investors and creditors of bankrupt companies, sold for next to nothing to the new owners.

Also, PLEASE include SMS in the interconnect rates discussion. Set an SMS interconnect fee at 5c and cap that max retail price at 30c or less. No more 75c SMSs which cost nothing to transmit.
 
Government would never approve a multi-billion rand extension on a budget for building a fibre network when there are so many other public issues to face.
 
Wow! Movement? Could something come from this??? Will parliament be our saving grace? Give them their free travel rates back if they do! Absolve the travelgate guys as well!!! :D
 
tco21 said:
Government would never approve a multi-billion rand extension on a budget for building a fibre network when there are so many other public issues to face.
Click to expand...

Do you have any evidence to back your claim?

The gov is stupid if they don't realise that massive economic benefits of cheap broadband. In fact, one of the quickest way to solve poverty is through the internet. You should see the amazing things happening in India because of cheap internet.

Oh, and that is my and your tax money too. We can't spend everything on AIDS medicine and handouts for poor people. I want value for my tax rand.
 
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