RIP Telkom

[sabagamma]

I think Telkom is going to be down in the dumps pretty soon. Neotel is going to be able to eclipse it on it residential and business broadband offerings.

The reason I say this is because:
1. 50 000 ADSL installations backlog. Most of these people will migrate to NeoTel
2. Current ADSL subscribers - they will migrate to NeoTel (cost).
3. Business - they will run to NeoTel, the incompetence shown by Telkom has assured that
4. Skype is going to kill international calls
5. Local calls / dialup is a diminishing market. NeoTel is also going to make more headway here. Its technology superiority over Telkom will put it in the lead role in this area.
6. PAY TV - Please, like DSTV will let you take their cash cow from underneath them.

So in my opinion, no market, no profit and a bleak future

Maybe I am being too optimistic, but Telkom, start looking for a CEO that is going to be able to lead you out of the dark times ahead - it's going to be a long and ardous journey.

Bad luck and good riddance Telkom!

 

[KillerX]

RIP Telkom huh? Rofl, a multi billion rand business will not just vanish, the goverment will make sure of that...

And if people think this SNO is going to SIGNIFICANTLY change telecoms in SA they must wake up. Neotel has said it WILL NOT start a price war with Telkom. It is also goverment controlled... what makes u think Neotel will be any better than Telkom?

And as soon as Neotel drops prices (by prolly 5% WOWIE!) then Telkom will do the same, and there will be no reason for u to switch to Neotel.

Neotel is Telkom Branch Number 2....

 

[RSnow]

Heh. Much as I would like to agree with you, and will probably be one of the first consumers to switch (as long as they can provide me with an equivalent service cheaper, or a better service for the same price, or hell, even an equivalent service for the same price!), in the business world, it doesn't usually work that way.
Many consumers are afraid of change, or just too lazy / apathetic to change. They will stick with what they know and currently have, because it is too much effort to change.
Also, most businesses will stick with the devil they know, especially at first. I don't think many, especially the ones that rely heavily on internet connectivity for their businesses, are going to change quickly. They'll first wait to see how the more adventurous businesses are handled by NeoTel. Hopefully, Neotel can provide service levels that are better than Telkom's, although that shouldn't be difficult.
Telkom is stuck in the dark ages. They have a LOT of work to do to become comptitive in any truly comptitive market. However, what they do have going for them is inertia. And huge amounts of money. They can probably afford to make no profit at all for the next 10 years (or longer), while they figure out other ways to rape the public. Their shareholders will probably not be happy with a situation like that, but the business landscape is changing, and they might be forced to do something like that.
So, while I truly hope that Telkom does die a horrid and painful death, I don't see it happening any time soon. We can hope that having actual competition might force Telkom to actually become a worthwhile company instead of a monopolistic rapist, but I think it is going to be quite a while before they really need to. *sigh*

 

[killadoob]

did virgin change cell phones?

no they ripping us off like cellc and the like

this is a country of oppotunity(to make tons of cash by ripping us off)

 

[mac_mac74]

i agree 100% with killadoob, Neotel have stated that calls are 25% higher than what they should be, but they wont compete in a price war with Telkom, in a nutshell: Neotel will be ripping off the consumer just like everyone else.
Look at it logically, Telkom wont drop prices until Neotel does, Telkom has a backlog of ADSL subscribers, who will more than likely run to Neotel to get quicker installation, so they have no reason to drop prices.

 

[Surv0]

Yup Telkom is here to stay unfortunately. Itll only be in about 4 or 5 years before Neotel make any considerable waves in the market.