Will Telkom become Chinese?

[gregmcc]

I would love it if the Chinese take over Telkom. Then you will really see some improvements. Forget America's as the superpower - it China! That's were all the new technology is coming from nowdays.

 

[AirWolf]

China buying into Telkom might certainly improve efficiency and service as long as they don't fill the call centres with Chinese people that are semi-literate in English.

 

[Valis]

Tianamen Square

 

[ic]

Or they might just see SA and Africa as the place to dump their old equipment.

China's old equipment [e.g. DSLAMs & copper] is likely to be newer than Telkodemonopolies' old equipment, perhaps even newer than Telkodemonopolies' new equipment...

 

[The_Unbeliever]

Sure they will, then they'll swap support and call centers...

Imagine trying to explain to a Chinese that your ADSL line's faulty... likewise the Chinese trying to explain to a Souff Efrican that their line's down

 

[Origin248]

I don't see much changing at all to be honest...if one thing the Chinese are good at (I know since I'm one ) is squeezing as much profits as possible. China couldn't care less about the politics of a country as long as they can make a profit (e.g. Zim and other African countries) They almost never let politics get in the way of making money.

One the other hand, I don't see the SA government approving of such a transaction, last time I checked Mbeki wants MTN to be the SA champion as a company and brand name. So I think it's going to be SA that's getting political rather than the other way round.

 

[antowan]

It can be good but only if the market is opened up to 2 or more new telecom companies with exactly the same liberties as Telkom currently have.

Especially South African companies should be allowed to form competing companies as we are headed for another ISCOR / MITAL STEEL saga if this happens without the option of local competition...

WE NEED MORE COMPETITION FFS!!!!

 

[mancombseepgood]

Hmm.... compete with the eastern sweat shop style?
I thought the Chinese left because our labour demands were too high...
Just thinking of the textile industry here.

 

[Alchemist]

I can just see it now, phoning Telkom support, and when someone answers the phone, you say, "Howzit my china".

 

[Wisemansa]

I can just see it now, phoning Telkom support, and when someone answers the phone, you say, "Howzit my china".

rofl

 

[mancombseepgood]

That's for the limeys Alchy..
Who knows that "china" is actually cockney slang? = My m8 (china plate)

 

[The_Unbeliever]

I can just see it now, phoning Telkom support, and when someone answers the phone, you say, "Howzit my china".

hehehehe

 

[jetpacman]

Chinese chicks are hot

 

[DragonLogos]

Telkom owed by a Dragon... hmmm

 

[AirWolf]

"Owned" you mean

 

[cyberarmy]

I don't think this will happen in the near future..... A couple years back Huawei tried to enter the South African Broadband internet market (Huawei is one of the largest communication hardware software designer/manufacturer in the world besides CISCO), but they had been turned down by both the Gov and industry because it will harm telkom/mtn/vodacom/DOC's interest, I heard somewhere that even Huawei stated they will charge prices higher than current local rates in the first couple years so they will not be a immediate threat to tekom and the rest, but still no luck.....

 

[Nod]

Do anybody have contact in China, so that we might get some information from somebody who actually deals with China Telecom?