kaspaas
Expert Member
There is a lot of talk nowadays on the so-called "digital divide".
In the olden days people spoke of the "have's and have-nots". Today they speak about the "knows and know-nots" of the information age.
For the local Information Provider industry to flourish (of which I'm part), we need many local Internet users who spend substantial time on the Internet to make the nice web functions to work.
Telkom is protected by law to provide that connectivity service. Unfortunately they do this in an extremely costly way for consumers as well as information providers. Local connectivity rates are rediculous - one does not have to bring the international component into the equation.
The funny thing of this all is that the lack of cost effective connectivity increases the pro-rate demand on the International link. Because so few people in SA can afford it to stay online for an extended period, local service and information providers can only provide a little information in a cost effective way. This forces users to use international sources.
ADSL will do a lot to build the local Internet Information Provider industry.
But there is a much simpler solution:
Provide a basic "56k modem" service where one can (for say R100 per month) connect as much when you wish to the ISP of your choice without any minute rates. This will then provide "connection on demand" for a flat rate of around R200 pm for all users.
I know this will compete with the R7 call option. I know it will reduce the ISDN market. I know it will even reduce the demand for ADSL.
But at least the infrastructure from home/office to the Telkom Exchange is in place. Telkom won't have to roll out ADSL broadbandwidth across the country. The max bandwidth demand will be limited by the nature of a 56k modem.
I know this is a 3rd rate (and world) suggestion, but it will buy time to keep SA clinging to the cliffs of the digital divide for a bit longer giving Telkom the opportunity to roll out what is required to keep SA on the high side of the digital divide.
In the olden days people spoke of the "have's and have-nots". Today they speak about the "knows and know-nots" of the information age.
For the local Information Provider industry to flourish (of which I'm part), we need many local Internet users who spend substantial time on the Internet to make the nice web functions to work.
Telkom is protected by law to provide that connectivity service. Unfortunately they do this in an extremely costly way for consumers as well as information providers. Local connectivity rates are rediculous - one does not have to bring the international component into the equation.
The funny thing of this all is that the lack of cost effective connectivity increases the pro-rate demand on the International link. Because so few people in SA can afford it to stay online for an extended period, local service and information providers can only provide a little information in a cost effective way. This forces users to use international sources.
ADSL will do a lot to build the local Internet Information Provider industry.
But there is a much simpler solution:
Provide a basic "56k modem" service where one can (for say R100 per month) connect as much when you wish to the ISP of your choice without any minute rates. This will then provide "connection on demand" for a flat rate of around R200 pm for all users.
I know this will compete with the R7 call option. I know it will reduce the ISDN market. I know it will even reduce the demand for ADSL.
But at least the infrastructure from home/office to the Telkom Exchange is in place. Telkom won't have to roll out ADSL broadbandwidth across the country. The max bandwidth demand will be limited by the nature of a 56k modem.
I know this is a 3rd rate (and world) suggestion, but it will buy time to keep SA clinging to the cliffs of the digital divide for a bit longer giving Telkom the opportunity to roll out what is required to keep SA on the high side of the digital divide.
and I'm hoping to find something just as fast and affordable 
lets just say the wireless idea sparks my intrest compared to renting 2 isdn lines