Non-compliance of ADSL Regulations by Telkom/ISPs

[derekc]

It seems like not one rule in the current ADSL regulations have been complied to by Telkom or the ISPs. It's been almost a month sicne the release of the regulations and Telkom nor any of the ISPs have announced anything about their compliance to the regs. Port shaping still exists, hard capping is still there and we still getting charged for phone line rental. Now what's the point of the regulations then?

Can any of the ISPs respond to it as it seems from previous threads you guys are say you are awaiting SAIX but I think it'll be good to let us know if anything is going on here and anyone taking action to implement changes. I doubt Telkom 's thought about abiding to the regulations because no penalties have been stated if they don't comply.

Writing to ICASA doesnt seem to help anymore. What else can we do to get Telkom and ISPs to start thinking about the regulations?

 

[bwana]

Writing to ICASA doesnt seem to help anymore. What else can we do to get Telkom and ISPs to start thinking about the regulations?

Tell me about it - I have yet to receive a response or even acknowledgement to a single enquiry.

 

[matt156]

Hi Derek

Unfortunately the ICASA regulations are impossible for the ISPs to implement without ICASA regulating the costing of bandwidth TO the ISPs from Telkom. Aside from SAIX and IS, ISPs have little control over the cost of bandwidth and cannot simply 'flick a switch' to offer uncapped local.

ICASA have also, as usual, released the regulations in an ambigious manner. There are already numerous different interpretations. For example, many ISPs have interpreted the uncapped local requirement meaning that ISPs must offer the option of uncapped local but can still charge for it. Eg, clients can have uncapped local, but must pay for it. ICASA say nothing about 'free' uncapped local.

As far as the line charges go, ICASA did not make it clear that they would fall away. In fact, the most popular interpretation is that the ADSL charge from Telkom will still be in place.

As I said, the new regs are typically ambigious and open to interpretation. I personally believe that ICASA don't know enough to make a clear stand and are too scared to. They have already stated that they will reexamine the regulations and try and explain what they meant by them

 

[DjStyles]

Man this really greats me. I'm so sick and tired of all this nonsence.

 

[Nocturnity]

I don't believe the fault lies with ICASA in this case. The regulations had to be approved by the DoC and they have greatly whittled down the text contained in the original drafts. It doesn't matter how many decisions ICASA makes or how noble they would like to be, it still comes down to the DoC to decide if anything can be implemented.

I would have slit my wrists long ago if I had to work for ICASA. You spend your days working your heart out to make some positive change (hell, ANY change) but when you finally submit the fruits of your labour, it gets turned down. The problem here is government and now they are putting more of their cronies in ICASA so there truly is no hope.

 

[matt156]

I don't believe the fault lies with ICASA in this case. The regulations had to be approved by the DoC and they have greatly whittled down the text contained in the original drafts. It doesn't matter how many decisions ICASA makes or how noble they would like to be, it still comes down to the DoC to decide if anything can be implemented.

I would have slit my wrists long ago if I had to work for ICASA. You spend your days working your heart out to make some positive change (hell, ANY change) but when you finally submit the fruits of your labour, it gets turned down. The problem here is government and now they are putting more of their cronies in ICASA so there truly is no hope.

True... also ICASA are heavily understaffed and underfunded, whereas Telkom is a giant, making a fortune by ripping us off. Telkom should have to give a huge percentage of their profits to fund ICASA.

I remember a few years ago Telkom wanted to raise their phone charges above inflation, and ICASA said they couldn't. Telkom did it anyway. End of story.

What else can we expect from a government-owned company being regulated by a government body? What an obvious conflict of interest!

 

[Slooth]

Is there nothing from the regulations that's crystal clear and not yet implemented?

 

[matt156]

Is there nothing from the regulations that's crystal clear and not yet implemented?

Nope. And even if they were, ISPs couldn't implement them without ICASA changing their cost prices. Eg for 'free' uncapped local with accounts, ISPs would then have to simply quadruple the price of accounts *shrug*.

 

[stormwalkerza]

"Is there nothing from the regulations that's crystal clear and not yet implemented?"

Actually yes, no 24hour diconnects ...

 

[derekc]

Thanks matt, that's been in the back of my mind lately. I really starting to think ICASA released those ADSL regs just so that consumers can get off their case and they don't piss off Telkom or any government officials. I understand nothing has been done according to the regs due to it not being clear but for ICASA to release such a doc then it's really poor of them regardless of their underfunding or understaffing issues. This just concludes that unless we wait to see what Neotel can do (hopefully within the year) our government is not willing to do anything to help consumers.

And good going on MNP...another stuff up. What's next? The PSTN license Neotel has is actually invalid?

 

[mikef]

"Is there nothing from the regulations that's crystal clear and not yet implemented?"

Actually yes, no 24hour diconnects ...

Plus if we talking about telkom as ISP the following:

The ability to purchase additional capacity without buying a new account
Uncapped local (even at a cost is not available from them)

Any interperation of the regulations require at least above

 

[bwana]

Plus if we talking about telkom as ISP the following:

The ability to purchase additional capacity without buying a new account
Uncapped local (even at a cost is not available from them)

Any interperation of the regulations require at least above

Why just talking about telkom as the isp? Are there different regulations for different ISPs?

 

[mikef]

Why just talking about telkom as the isp? Are there different regulations for different ISPs?

No, but some of the other ISP allow you to purchase topups and or local only accounts

 

[bwana]

No, but some of the other ISP allow you to purchase topups and or local only accounts

OK - got you now

 

[ebow3d]

As I said, the new regs are typically ambigious and open to interpretation. I personally believe that ICASA don't know enough to make a clear stand and are too scared to. They have already stated that they will reexamine the regulations and try and explain what they meant by them

Well, you cannot expect ICASA to actually make any regulations for Telkom to abide by. Telkom is controlled by the government. The poor sods at ICASA is (rightfully) worried about their jobs. Piss some government minister off and they will quickly have a formal inquiry into ICASA. Remember what happened to the Scorpions. Don't bite the hand that feeds.
Telkom makes the rules, not ICASA! ICASA's place is just to provide some well paying jobs for Telkom/government official's friends.
The real question is: why do you guys worry about some new ICASA regulations?

 

[matt156]

The real question is: why do you guys worry about some new ICASA regulations?

I don't think it's 'worry' so much as hope. Most users are desperate for more bandwidth and better broadband speeds.

 

[derekc]

Yeah imagine what happens if even we consumers become ignorant and continue as if no change will ever be made. The new regs gave us hope when it was announced it was done seeing how 'decent' the drags regs were, there was hope that prices would drop and we'd expect decent quality broadband and fair prices.

ebow3d your question means that you have no hope for the future of this country and specifically broadband. Well...the only we can do now is hope.

 

[ebow3d]

ebow3d your question means that you have no hope for the future of this country and specifically broadband. Well...the only we can do now is hope.

Well, as far as braodband is concerned, hope is all we have. However I don't hold my breath though.
What I meant by my previous post was simply that, if one read the new regulations, you would see that there is nothing concrete about it at all, ie: no change. There are just merely some suggestions. Experience tells us that Telkom is not likely to listen to any suggestions. Why should they?
Furthermore, even if ICASA was willing/able to put some real regulations in place, why should Telkom adhere to these? Just like Escom, or SAA, they will only be liable to some fines, which sounds like a lot of money to any individual, but is really nothing to big business. Telkom makes good money off us all, a lot more than some silly little fine of a few million. That's the reality, nothing to do with hope...
By the way, I do have hope for the future of this country, but it certainly does not lie in the hands of Telkom and the likes.

 

[Freaksta]

Oh well.... I guess we'll jst have to wait :/