No new pricing structure?

[Darkling]

One of the things that has been really bugging me is all the talk of the new pricing structures Telkom *spit* is supposedly bandying about. Now before you bite my head off for casting aspersion on the reliable informants, consider the following, even if it is only as an exercise in lateral thinking.

Before I continue, let me just state that living with a journalist has helped me to realise that when it comes to governments and corporations, it always pays to be a total skeptic and paranoia is well justified. That said, here is my point:

What if
Let us suppose for a moment that this whole new pricing structure thing is simply disinformation from Telkom *spit*, just for the sake of argument!
Now suppose that they "leak" it to the myadsl community.
Obviously, the community is outraged!
Said community is rocked to its core and starts a panic amongst the public and ICASA.
Telkom *spit* then denies they were ever considering this.

Outcome:
At the very least, Telkom *spit* has discredited myadsl as scaremongers, ill-informed digital-terrorists and liars. Casting a shadow on the validity of the organisation as a whole.

There are probably a few other "organisations" who would benefit from this, possibly including resellers cashing in on the amount of people grabbing 30Gig accounts before Telkomland freezes over. MAYBE!

BOLLOCKS, you say. Perhaps.
But is there anyone here who doubts that Telkom would resort to these tactics?

R6,500,000,000

Count the zeroes!
What would YOU do for six and a half billion rand?

LoneGunman, you are my personal hero! I believe that there most likely IS a new pricing structure, and that even if there isnt, phoning ICASA is the only way to ensure that there WONT be a new pricing structure!



This has been a test of the good night story broadcasting system. Had anything I said been true, Telkom would surely be burned to the ground by dawn. Thank you for tuning in.

 

[WiseCrack]

Lets imagine for a while adsl were free.

 

[Darkling]

Now thats what I call a really nice bed-time story.
Leaves me feeling all warm and fuzzy!

 

[Karnaugh]

Yes well, I've never been one for jumping on the band wagon of every crazy thumb sucked rumour around here, and there have been quite a few of them.

 

[LoneGunman]

Yes, but tactically - by approaching the Regulator in a polite, methodical way, providing quantities of what appears to be evidence, and requesting clarification on the validity of this apparent Telkom price rise - is hardly ruining ones reputation.

It demonstrates to Telkom (and to ICASA) that MyAdsl not only is very precise about
its actions, but that it fully respects and is willing to make contact with the Regulator, on issues that might potentially impact on consumers.

The underlying subtext and logic of your argument - would seem to somehow suggest
that no action should ever be taken until its become a reality - and only THEN is one
entitled to try fight it. This is 'reactive' and 'passive' - and permanently operating from a position of weakness.

Much better to politely gather what might be 'smoking gun' evidence of intended actions by Telkom, and demonstrate a methodical pro-activeness, and a total willingness to present the information to a Legal Body, and ask them if firstly, this
data is 'correct' and then secondly, if so, what legal steps would the Legal Body
take to ensure that these intended (and illegal) steps, are blocked.

No hysterical frightened scaremongering at all. Just a firm desire to uncover the truth,
and use the good offices of the Regulator itself, to determine the facts of the matter.

I could be wrong, but as far as I know, this is only the second time that anyone from MyAdsl has made contact with ICASA and asked for clarification on an issue.

That's hardly scaremongering. Also, as a big fan of chess and Tactics - I've proceeded
in a way that - even if this story is entirely bogus - ICASA is aware that I (if not the
Forum as well) have presented them with as much apparently supporting data as possible, couched clearly in terms that demonstrate that I am unsure of the authenticity of the data, and need their evaluation and input. (So that they're never being presented with merely hysterical hearsay.)

So if Telkom were hoping for actions that might ruin this forums credibility or
reputation, they're not getting this reaction - instead, they're providing me (and this Forum) with a platform to demonstrate to ICASA, that we're obsessively vigilant on consumer-related issues, willing to provide as much supporting data as possible - to
support any queries of concern, and ultimately completely respectful, and mindful of
the power and legal authority of the Regulator.

Thanks Telkom, for providing me with an excuse to demonstrate these above qualities to ICASA, on behalf of MyAdsl.
Actually, we wouldn't be ABLE to demonstrate and show how incredibly methodical, cool, respectful and precise we are, without this apparent Telkom price-rise, as a 'reason'.
So if Telkom were hoping for a 'negative' reaction, they've failed - and instead given us an opportunity, to demonstrate our very positive qualities, to the Regulator, in a totally justified context.
Thanks Telkom

I'll kick Telkom's ass at chess, or tactical positioning, any day.

 

[Robin Hood]

No wonder this country is up for grabs.....No one cares **** anymore.....the more you try, the less you get.....Technology????...in THIS country????.....forget it....Give the ppl a small land and a couple of mealies, and the guy thinks he's a farmer......now THAT's progress.....lololol

 

[asmith]

Telkom can not deny it. They have sent letters to the ISPs with this new pricing on it.

They could however retract it and claim some manager did not know what he was doing, but that would not reflect badly on MyADSL.

 

[bb_matt]

Let us suppose for a moment that this whole new pricing structure thing is simply disinformation from Telkom *spit*, just for the sake of argument!

Completely Moot Point, did you follow the other thread at all ?

I called Datapro yesterday and they confirmed the price changes and the fact that they are busy putting their prices together based on them.

That's enough proof for me. If you want to find out, as LoneGunman so aptly stated in the other thread "(nudging the deaf, dumb, and blind folks on forum who never realised that thing on the table is actually 'a telephone')"

 

[Sneeky]

http://www.hellkom.co.za/
front page scroll a little bit down and wait for the Telkom logo.

Re those pages: Would that pricing regime not also allow ISP's to buy only 30gig bundles or large bundles at a slightly cheaper rate (not much difference in the price at all which is very bad) and then resell the bandwidth with as many usernames as they like with self authentication?
So an isp would have history of their users habits and as some folks imply that the norm at the moment is that most people dont reach their 3 gig cap, this is where the isp could potentialy profit.

Hosting companies make a lot of their money by selling bandwidth that people dont use. They bank on the site not using its full allocation of bandwidth, even though it has been paid for by the user already.
eg, 10 users each with 1 gig traffic allocation. Isp charges each user for their 1 gig but only actualy buys say 8 gigs from the Bandwidth provider cause they know the 10 sites historicaly dont use the full allocation.

If this makes any sense at all, soz if I am talking tripe hehe.

 

[doobiwan]

I'll kick Telkom's ass at chess, or tactical positioning, any day.

Except they'd own the board and charge you landing rights everytime you moved a piece

LG, keep up the good work - Have you followed up on BB_Matts lead, tried to contact Datapro to see if you can get a copy of the notice?

 

[bb_matt]

That's not really a lead - I just know that Datapro are very approachable as an ISP.

I wouldn't even bother phoning IS or Mweb.

I'll try and get time to call again today to remind them about sending me their pricing structure and see if I can get any thoughts on this.

To be honest, if ICASA are not aware of these prices (until now), why not ?
If members of the public can find out about it ?
Very odd.

 

[Sneeky]

To be honest, if ICASA are not aware of these prices (until now), why not ?

The ISP's need have to shoulder that blame.

 

[Darkling]

The underlying subtext and logic of your argument - would seem to somehow suggest
that no action should ever be taken until its become a reality - and only THEN is one
entitled to try fight it. This is 'reactive' and 'passive' - and permanently operating from a position of weakness.

I ABSOLUTELY agree with everything you said LoneGunman. As you may have noticed, at the end of that post I proclaimed you my hero for the day. I also believe that everything you have done, has been done the right way.

I have been watching the other thread, and I believe there probably IS a new pricing structure! I am also not suggesting that anyone here HAS been scare-mongering. All I was trying to say is... What if? Telkom *spit* my be as dumb as hell, but they have enough money to rent brains good enough to come up with this exact kind of tactical shyte.