Indian lessons in busting cartels

[RVFmal]

South African mobile operators are charging up to 1 000% more than Indian mobile operators for a minute-long call.

There's a surprise for you........

South African interconnect fees are among the highest on the African continent, coming in third in a sample of 21 countries. While South Africans are paying R1,25, the Senegalese are paying just 21c.

Really?? Who would have thought......

Icasa could learn a thing or two from India's telecoms regulator, who now presides over one of the most liberalised telecoms sectors in the world.

The only thing ICASA will ever learn is which politicians pocket to pander to next.

Full Story - Mail and Guardian

 

[JK8]

India has more than 60 million subscribers, offcourse they can charge less.

 

[Johnny_Q]

India has more than 60 million subscribers, offcourse they can charge less.

Doesnt justify our high costs

 

[JK8]

Doesnt justify our high costs

But it justifies their low costs, they the cheapest in the world, a population of a billion people, tey have a total of 150 million subscibers(across all networks), we cant compare ourselves to them.

 

[Nick333]

But it justifies their low costs, they the cheapest in the world, a population of a billion people, tey have a total of 150 million subscibers(across all networks), we cant compare ourselves to them.

Yeah we can. To serve that many customers you need to invest appropriately to provide coverage and capacity. I doubt there is a huge disparity in the costs to provide service in India and South Africa. Even if it had become slightly cheaper in India its certainly not 1000% cheaper.

 

[hoover99]

is there any big industry in South Africa that doesn't take its consumers for a ride? banks? telecoms? media?

when's the last time you went 'oh that's value for money'?

 

[Abe]

India has more than 60 million subscribers, offcourse they can charge less.

New Zealand has 10% of our population and charges less. Not a good enought argument, I am afraid.

 

[kilos]

India has more than 60 million subscribers, offcourse they can charge less.

With close to 1 billion in population I am sure.

SA population 40 million with 20 million odd subscribers. Yes we are always
being milked. $$$

 

[The_Unbeliever]

There will come a time when the ordinary man in the street will have had enough of being milked of his money, and then the phrase "the worm turns" will take on new meaning.

 

[AirWolf]

If it was 20c previously it must return to 20c.

Why is the on-network calls not R1.25 cheaper than off-network calls?

 

[mancombseepgood]

If it was 20c previously it must return to 20c.

Why is the on-network calls not R1.25 cheaper than off-network calls?

Good point...

South African interconnect fees used to be 20c in 1994, but were increased by Vodacom and MTN to R1,25 shortly before Cell C entered the market.

Guess who the enemy is...

And as for the reason we pay so much... it's because... well... we pay... South Africans are terrible consumers... we are slaves to consumption.

 

[dam]

And as for the reason we pay so much... it's because... well... we pay... South Africans are terrible consumers... we are slaves to consumption.

Sad but true...

 

[Shake&Bake]

India has more than 60 million subscribers, offcourse they can charge less.

But it justifies their low costs, they the cheapest in the world, a population of a billion people, tey have a total of 150 million subscibers(across all networks), we cant compare ourselves to them.

So then what about Senegal as mentioned in the article? Only paying 21c.

With a population of 12,521,851 according to http://www.mapsofworld.com/senegal/index.html
they are substantially smaller in number compared to our 44.8 million...

is there any big industry in South Africa that doesn't take its consumers for a ride? banks? telecoms? media?

when's the last time you went 'oh that's value for money'?

According to TIAL its his R4.50 pie shop.
He experiences whenever his peckish
So go on down and have a bite

There will come a time when the ordinary man in the street will have had enough of being milked of his money, and then the phrase "the worm turns" will take on new meaning.

I don't think the ordinary man in the street really knows...

And if he does he, like most of us are just too complacent or don't have the means to take on (as the Journo says) the cellphone "Cartel" in this country - YES ICASA, TRY AND TAKE A HINT DAMMIT!!!

 

[mancombseepgood]

If only we could unite against these crooks... alas, there are so few who are willing to part with their beloved cell phones.

 

[Turtle]

The simple fact is we SAns like it up the butt. I remember noting when I was in Malaysia that I could send an SMS from there to South Africa for far cheaper than I could send an SMS within SA!

 

[BTTB]

My cell phone usage per month cost me three times what my Telkom Bill costs, yet the bloody thing sits on my desk gathering dust most of the time and if I do use it, my call is usually less than a minute and perhaps even less than 30 seconds.
I hate being ripped off and I fully believe that The South African Consumer deserves the prices they pay. No consumerism.

 

[Telkomisaloser]

According to TIAL its his R4.50 pie shop.
He experiences whenever his peckish
So go on down and have a bite

That's value for money

 

[mancombseepgood]

Shamrock pies??? Nothing beats a Shamrock... aah, miss the old 'Port Alfred' pie days...

 

[AirWolf]

This thread has been derailed by a discussion over ... pies .

 

[mancombseepgood]

Lol, ok back to India.. The chef at the Claridges in New Delhi makes a deadly matter paneer!