Who is Vodacoms upstream provider

[MrG]

SAIX, IS... or someone else?

 

[Syndyre]

AFAIK they use both SAIX and IS.

 

[vodacom3g]

Bulk of International is currently via SAIX.

Why do you ask?

 

[MrG]

Bulk of International is currently via SAIX.

Why do you ask?

sorry for the late reply... a friend of mine was asking alot, and I finally decided to get him the answer.

Does Vodacom use Neotel at all for anything at this point. I heard there are things here and there for voice, but data?

 

[Prof.Merlin]

I doubt that vodacom will use neotel, as telkom owns 50% of vodacom. (not sure if i am right with this...is saix owned by telkom), Does vodacom get cheaper rates from saix, or even free, because telkom owns 50% of telkom?

 

[Daniedj]

I doubt that vodacom will use neotel, as telkom owns 50% of vodacom. (not sure if i am right with this...is saix owned by telkom), Does vodacom get cheaper rates from saix, or even free, because telkom owns 50% of telkom?

That's a good point. Telkom, Saix and Vodacoma are all in the same bed. Don't know myself how they operate. Someone else should.

For that who provides MTN. I know Iburst uses Verizon (UUNET).

 

[ic]

I doubt that vodacom will use neotel, as telkom owns 50% of vodacom. (not sure if i am right with this...is saix owned by telkom), Does vodacom get cheaper rates from saix, or even free, because telkom owns 50% of telkom?

That's a good point. Telkom, Saix and Vodacoma are all in the same bed. Don't know myself how they operate. Someone else should.

For that who provides MTN. I know Iburst uses Verizon (UUNET).

Firstly, SAIX is a division within Telkodemonopolies, SAIX is not a separate company from Telkodemonopolies.

Secondly, Vodacom and MTN and CellC and iBurst and any other company, would all seriously consider NeOTel, if NeOTel could provide them with less expensive services with guaranteed SLAs, in Vodacom's case, Telkodemonopolies would obviously be very unhappy about potentially losing business to NeOTel, but the more pertinent questions are:

1. Is NeOTel even ready to deliver services with guaranteed SLAs yet?
2. Has NeOTel proved itself yet as a telecoms company that can and will deliver quality services?
3. What company would be willing to upset its customers by switching to a potentially inferior NeOTel service in its infancy?

Sure Telkodemonopolies will try and use its 50% influence at board level to keep Vodacom's business, but is NeOTel even in a position yet to challenge Telkodemonopolies?

 

[AirWolf]

Good point ic, but how will neotel ever be in a position to challenge telkom if no one wants to take a chance on them?

 

[ic]

Good point ic, but how will neotel ever be in a position to challenge telkom if no one wants to take a chance on them?

IMO NeOTel will get quite a few smaller customers, specifically ISPs, and once NeOTel has proven itself with smaller customers, the larger customers will seriously consider NeOTel as a viable alternative to Telkodemonopolies - remember that NeOTel promised the same prices but with better service levels, and NeOTel has to prove that it can deliver better service...

 

[bekdik]

I doubt that vodacom will use neotel, as telkom owns 50% of vodacom. (not sure if i am right with this...is saix owned by telkom), Does vodacom get cheaper rates from saix, or even free, because telkom owns 50% of telkom?

SAIX IS Telkom. They are a division of the company. Telkom likes to paint SAIX as an independent entity, but there is no company registered for SAIX, they use the same VAT number as Telkom, so if they are not part of Telkom, SARS needs to investigate what's going on.

 

[Prometheus]

A lot of mainstream providers are considering using Neo and some are using them in some form or another. They have all stated that they will not abandon Telkom services at this stage to ensure their customers get the best service possible. I think however that they will always use Telkom as a backup.

 

[Daniedj]

Can anyone confirm if I'm right that i-Burst uses Verizon.

 

[ic]

A lot of mainstream providers are considering using Neo and some are using them in some form or another. They have all stated that they will not abandon Telkom services at this stage to ensure their customers get the best service possible. I think however that they will always use Telkom as a backup.

As it should be, and a home goal shot in the foot of Telkodemonopolies for thinking that usage-based-billing [per GB] is a good idea...

 

[Prometheus]

I can't wait for the day Telkom would have to lower rates to an international level and when they get asked the question why was it so expensive all these years. I wonder what excuses they will come up with for crippling the uptake of broadband in SA due to high prices instead of the other way around as they have always claimed.

I don't think usage based is a bad idea... if it was fairly priced. But to even consider asking per gig means we are being ripped off not to even mention the per MB charge by the cell companies. Any fairly priced service would be cheap and include a minimum of at least 10GB usage. If they charged R300 or R400 for the full 100GB service then there is certainly a market for a R100/10GB service for people only doing email and browsing.