When reporters get it HORRIBLY wrong

[CritiKill]

http://www.themedia.co.za/article.aspx?articleid=255871&area=/media_columnistsnet_savvy/

"Here, the internet is anything but a mass medium, probably only accounting for less than 10 percent of the country's population. That's tiny.

Despite this, the country is set for real online expansion.

Broadband is here. It is growing and connectivity costs are dropping. Telkom recently dropped its ADSL prices and more cuts are expected."



"Connectivity costs are dropping..."?? What is this ou smoking?

 

[Sneeky]

Its a nice read and he didnt really get it wrong.
The statement about costs dropping is true but also very misleading, and a little chat with Ian Fraser in the tea room about the true state and costs of broadband in SA wouldnt hurt.

 

[CritiKill]

So what is it?

Is it true that prices have dropped? Or is it misleading?

I think every body is so wrapped up in interpreting politician like double-speak from Telkom that we may have lost sight of the most basic premise of interpreting statements...something is either true...or false!

The fact is that Telkom ADSL pricing has NOT dropped and that simple fact is NOT misleading.

Ian Fraser should defiitely sit him down and have a fat chat about the dire state of the SA internet.

 

[pope24]

Is it true that prices have dropped? Or is it misleading?

I think every body is so wrapped up in interpreting politician like double-speak from Telkom that we may have lost sight of the most basic premise of interpreting statements...something is either true...or false!

The fact is that Telkom ADSL pricing has NOT dropped and that simple fact is NOT misleading.

Not withstanding that ADSL is still way too expensive, the price has dropped.
If you want proof then go and look what a 512 account would have cost you when ADSL launched and the look at what it will cost you today. I think you will notice a difference.

What hasn't dropped is the price of bandwidth 3GB, from Telkom Internet, cost R249 at launch and it still costs R249.
You could technically argue that the real cost has dropped because it hasn't been adjusted for inflation, but that is just BS in my books.

 

[Sneeky]

Its a classic case of Telkoms spin winning a specific battle.
Sure they dropped the price of the connection a fraction, but then they turned around and infalted the bandwidth costs to everyone and introduced a hard cap.

All they have done is eased a bit of pressure on the actual pm subscription allowing them to holler from the hilltops that they have reduced the price.

In real terms they have just realised that they can make far more money out of the bandwidth as more people require more bandwidth, natural ADSL progression.
ADSL will grow and so will their coffers as the SA public has been trained to believe that over 3 gigs (SHAPED) is abuse and if you want to use more than 3 gigs you sure as heck are gonna pay for it and then some.
Drop the connection cost, get more people on board and the cost of the bandwidth will take care of their profits.

 

[CritiKill]

I stand corrected @Pope24...

I use ADSL and bandwidth interchangeably. After all, what is the point of ADSL without bandwidth?

I just feel that it's irresponsible of reporters to confuse the public my making "misleading" statements like this, causing the public to think that Telkom has indeed dropped the price of ADSL (and bandwidth), when we all know that without bandwidth, ADSL is useless. If bandwidth has'nt dropped, then the price has'nt dropped.

I really don't want to get too pedantic on this one, and I do see the difference.

 

[Sneeky]

.
I just feel that it's irresponsible of reporters to confuse the public my making "misleading" statements like this, causing the public to think that Telkom has indeed dropped the price of ADSL (and bandwidth), when we all know that without bandwidth, ADSL is useless. If bandwidth has'nt dropped, then the price has'nt dropped.

Couldnt agree with you more, Telkom dont seem to think so though.

 

[FaaQ]

Line rental has dropped for say the 512 from R680 to R477. Telkoms 3gb package is still the same Advanced R249 premium R269. That was the only reduction.