The only way I see LLU happening properly would be for the government to create a Not-For-profit company and for Telkom to hand over the physical network to them. This company would supply the physical cable to all service providers at the same price. Telkom would become a real service provider alongside IS, Mweb etc etc. The infrastructure company would be responsible for growing the network into rural areas and all service provider would be charged according to their usage of the network. This companies financials would also be open to public scrutiny.
Does this make sense? What comments? Yes I know I will catch a fat guy in a red suit coming down my chimney at the end of December before this would happen, but it's the only fair way I see it happening.
Instead of making the not-for-profit company responsible for infrastructure layout to rural communities and having other people pay them for the network (which is essentially what telkom does now)
I'd say, yes, not-for-profit-company that handles the infrastructure HOWEVER companies are responsible for laying cable if there is none and installing the ADSL line (or phone line) to the residence when there's an existing network/cable.
They'll oversee who uses what and where someone is allowed to install or whatever so that you don't get 5 companies laying cable on the same spot just to self-provide but rather use each others networks.
Bringing me to the point of standards, there should be a standard on cabling done by any company so that other companies may use/piggy back off of it without having issues with capacity.
no interconnection rates or silly ****
In turn, the government then gives subsidies/kickback to the companies who:
a) Do the most installations of broadband per year (talking physical cable to house etc): This can be per installation as well to offset the cost
b) Give kick back to the first cable/network to reach and connect rural areas
and the list can go on.
The government can even give some kind of tax break or incentive to the company who keeps their costs affordable to the rural communities (and everyone else, mainly so rural communities can afford the phone lines)...
And then this will promote healthy competition between the communications companies. They'll start competing in products and value added services whilst receiving kickbacks for what they bring to the south african people... instead of wondering how they can anally rape the little people who do have phone lines/adsl these days for more profit. (or having to resort to unreliable wireless services)
