Well essentially not in the short term.
But in the long term a good IT infrastructure would benefit SA. It also could be an aid for launching all sorts of initiatives into Africa and the rest of the globe. It all depends on how important government places technology. I think their priorities are elsewhere, which is a pity. Maybe the next generation of ANC supporters will see its importance. One wonders when making these statements, when the ruling party will start to draw from the much larger pool of the younger generation.
Relative to this topic. One cannot apportion all the blame on the government. As far legislation goes they are extremely lacking. All other state departments have seen massive transformation. Somehow one wonders if the state isn't perhaps stalling.
As far as high pricing goes, legislation is partly to blame for the lack of competition. Telkom is having a field day charging the highest rates it can get away with. This IMO is merely satisfying shareholders in the short term, but a foolish business strategy. As the leader in the country, they should know better. Mass marketing at reduced prices will attract more consumers into a market. Especially considering that the bulk of the people living in SA are poor. It would make a happy customer and possibly a more loyal one whenever competition does arrive. They should have a strategy that encompasses 5 or perhaps 10 year plans. They are doing the typical African thing of only thinking about today. SA will be so far behind the rest of the world and even in some parts of Africa. We are already at a disadvantage with our main trading partners, because of it. Major players are moving out of the SA market. IMO, Tiscali are recouping their investment by selling off. They don’t see a long term investment in SA benefiting their shareholders. Tiscali's excuse of concentrating on other markets is merely boardroom talk. If they were making money in SA, I don't think they would leave. It's a pity as other major players like AT&T have done the same. Who can blame them? Life is too short to sit around waiting for politicians to do something concrete. If these politicians would just have some plan of action in addressing the situation. They give out little bits of information now and then, but none of this is proof of their commitment. And until such time that the state sets down its plans based on a schedule and makes a proper statement to this regards, SA will have to just sit around waiting for the inevitable.
But to let Telkom off the hook and blame the state, I think not. Don't they have brains in their heads, to think for themselves?
<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">
