Loss of Telkom ADSL

[Lara Meano]

After two cable thefts in our area being Primrose Hill/Wychwood Germiston, after having my 20 giggs a month on Telkom ADSL for over 7 years we received a letter from Telkom saying that the lines in our area have become to expensive to maintain and that our lines are all going to be cut. I am wondering if Telkom would try this in wealthier areas like Bedfordview or Sandton. The rest of south africa moves forward on good and cheaper broadband ADSL offers and we are now thrown back into the dark ages with 3G. I feel like we have been cheated and have lost our internet freedoms. No more movies, music, skype and you tube because we simply cant afford that on 3G. How can Telkom just leave us out in the cold like this??? Surely its not acceptable. When I was told on the phone i have to pay for a new 3g phone handset and new routers i told the lady that I did not ask for this migration and her reply to me - "well telkom did not ask for their cables to be stolen". Then i proceeded to ask what happened to the fibre optic cables promised to us by telkom technicians for over two years now and the reply was "we dont know". This is very very unfair as it is us poorer to middle class folk that need the cheaper broadband option much more than other people. What can be done about this?????? This is very very unfair to say the least.

 

[Alton Turner Blackwood]

Move

 

[xrapidx]

Nothing ... It'd Telkom.

 

[MickZA]

After two cable thefts in our area being Primrose Hill/Wychwood Germiston, after having my 20 giggs a month on Telkom ADSL for over 7 years we received a letter from Telkom saying that the lines in our area have become to expensive to maintain and that our lines are all going to be cut.

Is it due to cable theft or actual maintenance?

I remember lightning used to take out the phones in the area regularly years ago when Wurth Screws were at the bottom of the hill.

In any event it seems that you're getting a raw deal unless fixed lines in the area have dwindled to the point where maintenance costs cannot be justified.

Edit: any WISPs in the area? The hill makes a good highpoint assuming it can be protected from the lightning.

 

[Lara Meano]

Is it due to cable theft or actual maintenance?

I remember lightning used to take out the phones in the area regularly years ago when Wurth Screws were at the bottom of the hill.

In any event it seems that you're getting a raw deal unless fixed lines in the area have dwindled to the point where maintenance costs cannot be justified.

Edit: any WISPs in the area? The hill makes a good highpoint assuming it can be protected from the lightning.

Nope, I have had good speed and never had issues. Letter said that due to crime in our area and cable theft it is to expensive for them to replace the cables and because cables are near a squatter camp it is to dangerous for them to work there.

 

[Lara Meano]

How do i move without a telephone line? Would love to get some of those nice MWeb deals, but need a land line for that.

 

[MickZA]

Try WAPA to see if there are any WISPs covering your area - http://www.wapa.org.za/coverage/request/

 

[Scooby_Doo]

How do i move without a telephone line? Would love to get some of those nice MWeb deals, but need a land line for that.

He meant, move as in move house.

 

[Alton Turner Blackwood]

The only way you will see ADSL again is if you move to a different area.

Telkom will not replace cables if it doesn't make business sense to do so.

 

[TJ99]

You had movies and Youtube on 20 Gig a month???

 

[Lara Meano]

Owned my house for 20 years now. Not that simple.

 

[Lara Meano]

Well for instance in one month i torrent downloaded sons of anarchy season 5 and 6. And had a few giggs to spare. How much would that cost me on 3g and how long would that have taken on 3g speed??

 

[Lara Meano]

Sad really. There are hundreds of people in my area that use ADSL and many businesses. So how cant it be worth their while? Its not a small area with only a few people using adsl.

 

[Lara Meano]

Ohhhhhhhhhh my my my!!! Yesterday Telkom Social services contacted me on twitter as they had made note of people retweeting my tweet on this issue. They asked me to e mail them. I did that. They got back to me within half an hour to say they are so sorry about the mistake but myself and a few other people where sent letters and put on the cut off list by MISTAKE!!! This after me phoning for 3 months and making enquiries getting nowhere!! I am relieved of course but i feel sorry for all those people being cut in smaller areas and I am annoyed because if i had run out and bought a satellite phone and a new router i would be fuming now!! All i can say is thats a horrible mistake and thanks to twitter and the power of social networking!!!! The response was immediate.

 

[Lara Meano]

Ohhhhhhhhhh my my my!!! Yesterday Telkom Social services contacted me on twitter as they had made not of people retweeting my tweet on this issue. They asked me to e mail them. I did that. They got back to me within half an hour to say the are so sorry about the mistake but myself and a few other people where sent letters and put on the cut off list by MISTAKE!!! This after me phoning for 3 months and making enquiries getting nowhere!! I am relieved of course but i feel sorry for all those people being cut in smaller areas and I am annoyed because if i had run out and bought a satellite phone and a new router i would be fuming now!! All i can say is thats a horrible mistake and thanks to twitter and the power of social networking!!!! The response was immediate. Any way, now that i know my line is still secure, I am tired of all these mistakes! So its off to Afrihost for me!!

 

[Lara Meano]

Sorry, tried so hard to delete double posting.

 

[MickZA]

Glad you came right in the end

Still at loss iro of the location of the squatter camp Telkom referred to, whereabouts is it? (mind you, I've been in PE since the mid 80s so I guess Primrose has changed a lot).