Despite these concerns from both users and service providers, White is confident that users are happy with the level of service provided to ADSL subscribers. "The reality is that, because we are situated in South Africa, international bandwidth is very expensive. We pay for it in dollars and euros," he says.
<b>- So do the rest of the world - $30 for an unlimited 2 meg line... R210 Steve.</b>
In terms of cost to experience, we believe that we provide a considerable amount of bandwidth for the cost."
<b>- 512K... can I type www.download-entire-internet.com? If you get full speed you probably work at Telkom's HO.</b>
Cost was an essential part of the deliberation process in bringing ADSL to market. "It wasn't the technology that took long to take to market, it was figuring out how low we could get the price without decreasing the value proposition."
<b>- This isn't low.</b>
He points to the public's support of the service to demonstrate its success. "We can't cope with the demand and have had to beef up our installation-and-delivery team," he says.
<b>- Well it's not London Steve you would be working hard there - 45,000 orders a <b>week</b>.</b>
White says that the response from the public has been wonderful, there being 12 500 current subscribers and a user base growing by 1000 every month. "We have more orders outstanding every month."
<b>- Ja, and they have to wait for ages... why do you think there are outstanding orders? - because you guys are so slow! People NEED the service, that's why there are orders.</b>
He adds that it works very well for the high-end residential and small business markets in that it offers speed, always-on permanent connectivity, voice and data options, and tremendous cost savings for everyone.
<b>- DSL was not meant for rich people, kids all around the world have it in their bedrooms, here we have to grovel for an over-priced piece of crap connection.</b>
"Only between 5% and 10% of our users reach the cap every month," says White.
<b>- So then why charge EVERYONE so much, and not just equalise the cost?</b>
"Why make them pay for something they won't use? If we don't cap it, we will have to charge more, negating the cost savings. The cap is there to ensure that our customers get the best service at the best price; the package has been created to do this."
<b>- Best schmest, benefit blah blah.. you've downloaded your sales tips from about.com, now what...? There is NO BEST service and no BEST price... so far anyway.</b>
White says that Telkom is open to ideas and is in constant communication via email.
<b>- Who? Where??? With each other? Joke e-mails within Telkom don't count.</b>
"The things that they are looking for will cost money to provide. Ninety per cent of users are happy with the service. For a small minority of users to demand changes that cost money is rather presumptuous."
<b>- Now it's ninety percent. Untrue, it's less - your survey said so. They are just thanking God that they don't have to cough up R5,000 for a rubbish Diginet line which is WAY overpriced as well.</b>
SAIX is working on the introduction of a less shaped international pipe that will be offered to ISPs to meet the needs of customers who have high bandwidth applications. This will be at an additional premium to the current service to compensate for the cost of providing additional bandwidth.
<b>- Bandwidth costs next-to nothing, read my post about bandwidth facts + figures. </b>
"Time will tell whether those users who are complaining are willing to pay that premium for the service," White says.
<b>- Why pay a premium for something kids overseas get with their pocket money????????????</b>
He adds that Telkom gladly accepts their help and is open to suggestions.
<b>- MY help? Ummmmmm... don't hold your breath, you might go blue.</b>
Miller disagrees and also disputes its claims that the majority of users are satisfied with the service. "Telkom claims that most ADSL users are happy with the service, but all 'public' statistical evidence refutes this claim. We challenged Telkom to do an 'open' survey to substantiate its claims, but [it has] refused this offer. All our polls show an overwhelmingly negative majority."
<b>- Bloody right. Negative-dot-com.</b>
Ironically, Telkom also recognises the potential of ADSL, estimating a potential of a quarter of a million access points by the end of the product lifecycle.
<b>- End? I thought this was the start - and they were aiming for 300,000 users! Not with these prices, Steve.</b>
It has plans to expand its coverage. Currently it has 60% coverage of the country nationally, and plans to increase to full capacity. White sees ADSL reaching maturity in four to five years and broadband becoming a key focus of the telecommunications industry in the future.
<b>- Reaching maturity in 4-5 years... read the above paragraph - broadband becoming a key focus of the telecommunications industry <u>in the future</u>... I'm packing my bags as I type.</b>
"This is just a conservative view," he adds. He is philosophical about the MyADSL complaints. "They are not going to go away. We are always going to have 5% or 10% of our customers not being able to use the offering as it was intended and who will be disappointed. There's not much we can do about changing that."
<b>- There is, you are responsible for looking after South Africa's tellecomunications needs!</b>
I can tell you now, and I will say it to you in your face - you are doing a badjob of it. You are bending over for the soap which are the Americans, and we in turn have to take it. You are OUR soap Mista White. And we have no choice but to bend, and the Americans are standing right behind us waiting for us to pick up the soap. So, we're picking up the soap because we have no choice. Pity there's no soap-on-a-rope yet, hopefully that happens this year still if you know what I mean.
I say get rid of them, they belong 15,000 km's away from here. Pity the earth isn't flat, I'd push them off myself.
[ Generally rude and inflammatory remarks edited out by MaD
]
<u>_________________________________________________</u>
Just imagine where SA would be now if it weren't for Telkom
<b>- So do the rest of the world - $30 for an unlimited 2 meg line... R210 Steve.</b>
In terms of cost to experience, we believe that we provide a considerable amount of bandwidth for the cost."
<b>- 512K... can I type www.download-entire-internet.com? If you get full speed you probably work at Telkom's HO.</b>
Cost was an essential part of the deliberation process in bringing ADSL to market. "It wasn't the technology that took long to take to market, it was figuring out how low we could get the price without decreasing the value proposition."
<b>- This isn't low.</b>
He points to the public's support of the service to demonstrate its success. "We can't cope with the demand and have had to beef up our installation-and-delivery team," he says.
<b>- Well it's not London Steve you would be working hard there - 45,000 orders a <b>week</b>.</b>
White says that the response from the public has been wonderful, there being 12 500 current subscribers and a user base growing by 1000 every month. "We have more orders outstanding every month."
<b>- Ja, and they have to wait for ages... why do you think there are outstanding orders? - because you guys are so slow! People NEED the service, that's why there are orders.</b>
He adds that it works very well for the high-end residential and small business markets in that it offers speed, always-on permanent connectivity, voice and data options, and tremendous cost savings for everyone.
<b>- DSL was not meant for rich people, kids all around the world have it in their bedrooms, here we have to grovel for an over-priced piece of crap connection.</b>
"Only between 5% and 10% of our users reach the cap every month," says White.
<b>- So then why charge EVERYONE so much, and not just equalise the cost?</b>
"Why make them pay for something they won't use? If we don't cap it, we will have to charge more, negating the cost savings. The cap is there to ensure that our customers get the best service at the best price; the package has been created to do this."
<b>- Best schmest, benefit blah blah.. you've downloaded your sales tips from about.com, now what...? There is NO BEST service and no BEST price... so far anyway.</b>
White says that Telkom is open to ideas and is in constant communication via email.
<b>- Who? Where??? With each other? Joke e-mails within Telkom don't count.</b>
"The things that they are looking for will cost money to provide. Ninety per cent of users are happy with the service. For a small minority of users to demand changes that cost money is rather presumptuous."
<b>- Now it's ninety percent. Untrue, it's less - your survey said so. They are just thanking God that they don't have to cough up R5,000 for a rubbish Diginet line which is WAY overpriced as well.</b>
SAIX is working on the introduction of a less shaped international pipe that will be offered to ISPs to meet the needs of customers who have high bandwidth applications. This will be at an additional premium to the current service to compensate for the cost of providing additional bandwidth.
<b>- Bandwidth costs next-to nothing, read my post about bandwidth facts + figures. </b>
"Time will tell whether those users who are complaining are willing to pay that premium for the service," White says.
<b>- Why pay a premium for something kids overseas get with their pocket money????????????</b>
He adds that Telkom gladly accepts their help and is open to suggestions.
<b>- MY help? Ummmmmm... don't hold your breath, you might go blue.</b>
Miller disagrees and also disputes its claims that the majority of users are satisfied with the service. "Telkom claims that most ADSL users are happy with the service, but all 'public' statistical evidence refutes this claim. We challenged Telkom to do an 'open' survey to substantiate its claims, but [it has] refused this offer. All our polls show an overwhelmingly negative majority."
<b>- Bloody right. Negative-dot-com.</b>
Ironically, Telkom also recognises the potential of ADSL, estimating a potential of a quarter of a million access points by the end of the product lifecycle.
<b>- End? I thought this was the start - and they were aiming for 300,000 users! Not with these prices, Steve.</b>
It has plans to expand its coverage. Currently it has 60% coverage of the country nationally, and plans to increase to full capacity. White sees ADSL reaching maturity in four to five years and broadband becoming a key focus of the telecommunications industry in the future.
<b>- Reaching maturity in 4-5 years... read the above paragraph - broadband becoming a key focus of the telecommunications industry <u>in the future</u>... I'm packing my bags as I type.</b>
"This is just a conservative view," he adds. He is philosophical about the MyADSL complaints. "They are not going to go away. We are always going to have 5% or 10% of our customers not being able to use the offering as it was intended and who will be disappointed. There's not much we can do about changing that."
<b>- There is, you are responsible for looking after South Africa's tellecomunications needs!</b>
I can tell you now, and I will say it to you in your face - you are doing a badjob of it. You are bending over for the soap which are the Americans, and we in turn have to take it. You are OUR soap Mista White. And we have no choice but to bend, and the Americans are standing right behind us waiting for us to pick up the soap. So, we're picking up the soap because we have no choice. Pity there's no soap-on-a-rope yet, hopefully that happens this year still if you know what I mean.
I say get rid of them, they belong 15,000 km's away from here. Pity the earth isn't flat, I'd push them off myself.
[ Generally rude and inflammatory remarks edited out by MaD
]<u>_________________________________________________</u>
Just imagine where SA would be now if it weren't for Telkom
