"Joe Average" "Broadband" now a viable home solution

[bb_matt]

Although the (unconfirmed) Nov. 1 prices in terms of heavy broadband usage are shocking, there is at least one area that is encouraging.

A 192DSL line complete with rental and ISP costs should be below R400pm for a 2gig account in November.
Current price estimates based on Telkoms (unconfirmed) Nov. 1 prices :-

192 DSL, 3gig account :- R448.98
192 DSL, 2gig account :- R414.78


Yes, the amount of data for the cost is pathetically low, but for an average home user who doesn't use broadband intensive applications, the cost is starting to compete with dialup.

Of course, the flip side of the coin is that true broadband and all that it implies - 512 speeds or better, 10gig data or better - is still above R1000 a month, so the full multimedia experience is still not even close to affordable for middle income earners.

Hopefully, however, the lower costs for entry level accounts will drive a huge upsurge in DSL adoption and we can see if Telkom puts their money where their mouth is - they've been on record many times indicating that prices will improve as more people get online.

 

[LethalChicken]

To telkom I have to quote the unforgettable Monty Python.

I fart in your general direction.

 

[justinct]

Here are some stats about the average south african (population 45026000) :

1. Life expectancy 47
2. 1 in 4 average joes have aids
3. 4 out of 5 can read
4. 7% chance that he/she uses the internet
http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/southafrica_statistics.html

5. The ave south african earns R1500 per month.
www.academy.umd.edu/education/student_showcase/SouthAfrica/SA2001/article_mistry.htm

Therefore, after the ave south african has paid tax, paid for his/her : residence, water and electricity, food, transport and rates, do you honsestly think that the average South African cares that he/she can now buy ADSL at 27.652% of their gross salary? I think not, i think that after all those expenses the ave south african is just worried about staying alive/being able to be self sufficient.

The government must step up to make adsl available to the average south african, because according to those statistics the ave south african can just barely support him/herself never mind a whole family. It is in the constitution that we all have the right to communication, at the present time telkom is taking this right away from the average south african and that is illegal.
Government is/has been sitting back too long and letting this happen.

I must add that i am very impressed with our president at the moment, he is doing a great job and is standing on alot of toes by doing the right thing, i just hope that he is not ousted by the communist party and the youth league for trying to put criminals like Jacob Zuma away. Fraud and corruption must go, and so must greedy telkom people who are taking our basic human rights like communication away.

 

[noswal]

But if you are arriving at the average income from the 45 odd million population that is incorrect because that is not the working population, as that should not include children, retired people and housewifes etc.

 

[justinct]

Yeah i know that and assumed the people who did the stats also took that into account. As far as i remember 1st year stats they teach u that. Also im not statistician or an actuary, but if im not mistaked that makes the situation worse?

 

[ettubrute]

Problem is, it's still more than my telephone account, while spending (almost) all evenings on the net with dail-up. Thus, not yet justified to switch!