Telkom fixed line subscriber bleed unabated

[Visser]

How can you waive your right to apply for a fixed line anywhere in SA? So even if you move house you can't apply? That sounds like a situation lawyers would make quick work of.

It was either that or we still did not have a telephone line. Internet was not a problem as I used 3G while the lines were down. I have some attorney friends and they just laughed when I told them about the issue. I accept that I will no longer get fixed line. I tried my chances with Telkom and they declined based on the agreement I signed.

 

[Visser]

That does not make sense. Not that I don't believe you but that its soooo unbelievable!!

This is no lie, and yes, it sounds ridiculous!

Here is the phone they brought with them when they did the house call and gave to us:



It is a wireless phone - still has the 011-- number and we still gets billed by Telkom. However, the 10GB data comes via 8TA and is also included in our Telkom bill.

 

[Bryn]

It was either that or we still did not have a telephone line. Internet was not a problem as I used 3G while the lines were down. I have some attorney friends and they just laughed when I told them about the issue. I accept that I will no longer get fixed line. I tried my chances with Telkom and they declined based on the agreement I signed.

My comment was more concerned with your situation if you moved house.

 

[Visser]

My comment was more concerned with your situation if you moved house.

Yes, even if I move. I can no longer apply for a fixed line, and thus no ADSL, with Telkom again. But the same applies to people moving into our area. This year 2 houses were sold in our street. None of them can get landlines or ADSL they have the same phone and service we have.

It seems Telkom is moving away from fixed lines for some or the other reason.

 

[Bryn]

Yes, even if I move. I can no longer apply for a fixed line, and thus no ADSL, with Telkom again. But the same applies to people moving into our area. This year 2 houses were sold in our street. None of them can get landlines or ADSL they have the same phone and service we have.

It seems Telkom is moving away from fixed lines for some or the other reason.

That sounds impossible. Why would Telkom refuse you a line at a subsequent address if the infrastructure is in place? And if they can, why would you sign a piece of paper claiming to do something like that to you?

There's nothing stopping you from taking out a mobile internet connection on your own if DSL isn't available. Loads of people in SA do that. And if a fixed line isn't available stick to cellphones.

 

[Visser]

That sounds impossible. Why would Telkom refuse you a line at a subsequent address if the infrastructure is in place? And if they can, why would you sign a piece of paper claiming to do something like that to you?

There's nothing stopping you from taking out a mobile internet connection on your own if DSL isn't available. Loads of people in SA do that. And if a fixed line isn't available stick to cellphones.

My problem has never been with to where I will move in future - if I will ever move. It was about getting my communications restored as soon as I can since it has been down for 2 and a half months. So, yes, I signed my rights away to get the wireless phone from Telkom as quick as I could.

 

[Bryn]

My problem has never been with to where I will move in future - if I will ever move. It was about getting my communications restored as soon as I can since it has been down for 2 and a half months. So, yes, I signed my rights away to get the wireless phone from Telkom as quick as I could.

But if mobile internet is possible then you had communication. You could have signed up for the exact same Telkom Mobile connection you currently have, or one with Afrihost, Vodacom or Cell C.

Preventing yourself from ever having a Telkom line is a HUGE thing to agree to. Technology advances, people move house etc. You don't know what the future holds, except that a Telkom line won't be part of it.

 

[Visser]

But if mobile internet is possible then you had communication. You could have signed up for the exact same Telkom Mobile connection you currently have, or one with Afrihost, Vodacom or Cell C.

Preventing yourself from ever having a Telkom line is a HUGE thing to agree to. Technology advances, people move house etc. You don't know what the future holds, except that a Telkom line won't be part of it.

I run a business and have clients call me on a daily basis. Problem is, most of them do not want to call on cellphone numbers. Telkom offered the wireless line at the exact same fee (line rental included, which we do not even have anymore) and the same fees I would have paid from the landline. People calling me are not charged for cellphone costs, but rather normal costs. I also still get my unlimited landline-to-landline calls I had.

I can take the wireless phone with me, which I did earlier in the year when I went to Durban. As long as there is 8ta reception I can make a receive calls as I did with my landline, at the same costs I used to pay.

Problem now is, I can never apply for a landline again.

 

[Bryn]

I run a business and have clients call me on a daily basis. Problem is, most of them do not want to call on cellphone numbers. Telkom offered the wireless line at the exact same fee (line rental included, which we do not even have anymore) and the same fees I would have paid from the landline. People calling me are not charged for cellphone costs, but rather normal costs. I also still get my unlimited landline-to-landline calls I had.

I can take the wireless phone with me, which I did earlier in the year when I went to Durban. As long as there is 8ta reception I can make a receive calls as I did with my landline, at the same costs I used to pay.

Problem now is, I can never apply for a landline again.

So why not just get a Skype Number? It functions like a landline, has competitive rates and allows other people to call you at normal local rates. When taking out a Skype Number you have to set its base city. Skype works on PC's, mobile devices and there are physical telephone units you can buy too.

Obviously Skype needs internet to function, but that's what mobile internet is for.

 

[Chris.Geerdts]

These landlines are now necessary only because of ADSL

Apart from offering uncapped ADSL, landlines remain important for business more than home use. A fixed number in some industries looks more professional, gives the impression the call will be cheaper and the quality of the call more reliable.

Customers don't have to use Telkom for a fixed number - there are half a dozen very good alternatives they can port to.

 

[kianm]

The issue of waiving one's right to apply for a landline :wtf: . Hellkom really does not have any competition

 

[Jola]

The issue of waiving one's right to apply for a landline :wtf: . Hellkom really does not have any competition

Yes, this is absolutely crazy.

 

[elf_lord_ZC5]

Copper gets stolen, then put in fiber which has no value at the scrapyard - but ja if you couldn't be bothered with fixed line business then you should bail, and let someone who can supply the service take over.

Putting in fiber also takes away the excuse that a lot of ISP's hide behind for their lack of service, that is being paid for, namely ancient Telkom legacy copper connections, which are seldom as bad as most ISP's claim.

A friend who has just gotten a fiber connection, on a 2mb/s line, is getting no better speeds from his ISP, than he did when on copper, so the fault was not with the copper, but with the ISP.

Moving as many of your clients, as possible to Wi-Fi is not the solution.

 

[elf_lord_ZC5]

Another thing, if Telkom want out of fixed lines - then why are they fighting local loop unbundling so hard ... ?

 

[Sher11zn]

get Telkom unlimited deal

 

[Tellurian]

Time for Telkom to change the usage model - make local exchange calls free, one rental amount for bouquet of offerings. Telkom needs to maximise numbers of users of infrastructure. Value for Telkom comes from subscriber base, not usage per subscriber. And service, service, service! Change organisational focus to customer expectations - which are in my opinion - value, speed, accessibility, responsiveness! Forget all the BS Summer this, `Wow that - get the basics right and make a Telkom line something everyone wants because a line is better value, faster, more accessible and Telkom is more responsive than the alternatives. It's not like the alternatives are that good either... come on Telkom - partner with an international telco (remember the discussions with Korea) and ramp up the offering and use SA as the launch pad into Africa.

 

[MickeyD]

Time for Telkom to change the usage model - make local exchange calls free, one rental amount for bouquet of offerings. Telkom needs to maximise numbers of users of infrastructure. Value for Telkom comes from subscriber base, not usage per subscriber. And service, service, service! Change organisational focus to customer expectations - which are in my opinion - value, speed, accessibility, responsiveness! Forget all the BS Summer this, `Wow that - get the basics right and make a Telkom line something everyone wants because a line is better value, faster, more accessible and Telkom is more responsive than the alternatives. It's not like the alternatives are that good either... come on Telkom - partner with an international telco (remember the discussions with Korea) and ramp up the offering and use SA as the launch pad into Africa.

Spot on!

The only way that an international telco can get involved is if the majority shareholder changes its attitude or sells some or all of its shares.