Will Telkom woo you back?

[LabAnimal]

Never used Telkom never will...

The Irony is: You do! All the Cellular Companies use Telkom for inconnecting, any International Browsing you do is Via Telkom, so no matter who you pay instead of Telkom, your money ends up there anyway.

 

[LabAnimal]

The other problem i see coming with Neotel, You will be forced to use them as your ISP if you get DSL with them. I for one will be very happy if I can switch to Neotel and get either a better service than Openweb or stay with Openweb and utilize Neotel to connect with them!. - Somehow don't think that's going to happen with Neotel. I've also said before, if Neotel can't give me what i want and telkom can and at a better price, I'd have to stay with the Devil!.

 

[The_Unbeliever]

why do I get a funny feeling that we'll be screwed twice over next year?

 

[LifelongGamer]

The sad reality is ...

Sadly, the lack of open competition has created a situation where customers like myself are STILL held hostage to Telkom.

As those that have been following my lates plight with Telkom will know - it's approaching 2 weeks and my Telkom line is still dead and despite daily requests to be kept informed on progress and an accurate assessment of how long this non-service I'm paying for will last, Telkom has yet to do so.

Telkom needs to first learn what it means to 'woo customers' before they will have ANY hope to 'woo back'. This 'quiet' time has allowed me to reflect on previous problems I've encountered with Telkom and the tragic truth is that I've experienced the same lack of service around this time last year. In fact, most public holidays I'm sitting with problems on my Telkom line instead of being able to take advantage of the precious time and play my online games. Is it a pattern of victimisation or simply a co-incidence of stupifying proportions that nothing has been done over the years to improve service delivery or even to put in place effective means of communications with their own clients.

I still cannot accept that a telecommunications company does not know how to communicate!

The latest excuse is cable-theft. Funny thing is my community has ONE SDC and my neighbours have working lines. Eventually Telkom told me "it's a case of 2 part cables .. E/V. E is working (my neighbour) but V was stolen (my line) and I simply have to wait" (who knows how long, apparently Telkom doesn't or are unwilling to advise) for replacement cable which does not provide any assurance the quality issues I actually reported the fault for will be resolved. Then again, even a working (albeit faulty) line is better than no line at all and since there is no wireless competition in my community I have no choice but to complain and complain until something is done.

The way I feel right now, all Neotel have to do is ensure I have coverage, communicate with me and provide a reliable / stable service and they've got my business. It would certainly be easier to stick with Telkom but the problems they force upon me make it definitely NOT WORTH MY WHILE.

I pray it's only a matter of time (the less, the better IMO) that a viable choice is made available for my area. Telkom has had (and continues to have) lots of opportunities to correct their mistakes and gain some customer-goodwill as there's no alternative yet they continue to take advantage of the legacy from their monopoly-era to their own detriment.

 

[Valis]

Never ever ever ever ever ever ever etc. You get the picture. I cannot wait to dump Telkom. I will move to Neotel even if they are more expensive than Telkom. /me jumps for joy

...ever, ever, ever, ever, ever...Telkom are the worst company in history, and they DON'T CARE! Got rid of my Telkom line years ago and would rather communicate using two tins and a piece of string than ever go back to them.

 

[ic]

The other problem i see coming with Neotel, You will be forced to use them as your ISP if you get DSL with them. I for one will be very happy if I can switch to Neotel and get either a better service than Openweb or stay with Openweb and utilize Neotel to connect with them!. - Somehow don't think that's going to happen with Neotel. I've also said before, if Neotel can't give me what i want and telkom can and at a better price, I'd have to stay with the Devil!.

I'm sure that when NeeTel eventually does get round to offering xDSL [read when|if LLU ever happens], there will be lots of reseller ISPs offering NeeTel xDSL, but it is unlikely to be as flexible as Telkodemonopolies' ADSL where one can choose between SAIX & IS & VB, it will just mean that NeeTel gets added to that list.

If LLU ever does happen, expect Telkodemonopolies to become less flexible and only allow SAIX-ADSL ISP accounts to be used with its ADSL.

 

[neio]

Woo Woo, all aboard for the gravy train.

 

[LifelongGamer]

Comments regarding Neotel ...

I may be clinging to hope but it seems pre-emptive to assume Neotel's offerings will be either limiting or of lesser value than Telkom's.

We do not have any verifiable information regarding the structure of Neotel's xDSL service nor that even IF restricted to Neotel ISP that the service level will not be acceptable.

Personnally, IF Neotel can provide me with a reliable, effecient service by cutting out third-party involvement in order to uplift quality of service then I have no problem at all with that arrangement. However, should quality suffer then it stands to reason that more competition in the ISP space will be required but we can only cross that bridge when we get to it. In fact, do we even know for certain that Neotel is planning their own ISP? From what I understand, Neotel is aiming at providing the infrastructure connection and portal service, not necessarily content provision so perhaps ISP's will be free to jump onboard provided they meet the entry / service requirements ..?

 

[ic]

We do not have any verifiable information regarding the structure of Neotel's xDSL service nor that even IF restricted to Neotel ISP that the service level will not be acceptable.

NeeTel does not have an xDSL service, and will not have such a service for a very long time, but knowing that LLU will be essential for NeeTel to launch its own xDSL, means that some LLU-specific predictions can be made.

 

[LifelongGamer]

NeeTel does not have an xDSL service, and will not have such a service for a very long time, but knowing that LLU will be essential for NeeTel to launch its own xDSL, means that some LLU-specific predictions can be made.

Agreed LLU is still some way down the road but 'predictions' are a dime-a-dozen without more information from Neotel on how they plan to provide the xDSL service.

For all we know, Neotel could be planning on simply shortening the copper line by deploying their own fibre-based SDC points in communities and only using Telkom's current copper on a shared basis. This move would mean improved service and speeds from the SDC point to the Neotel backbone. But it would also mean carrying all issues / problems with Telkom's existing copper lines up to the SDC. I've had more issues with Telkom copper lines since I cancelled my ISDN and went to ADSL than I care to repeat. Per my logic, it might be more expensive initially, but in the long-run it would be better for Neotel to run their own copper lines to customer's homes upon request in order to ensure a better service.

The only issue then would be for the SAPS to manage cable-theft syndicates and purchase points.

Those are my 'predictions' but without any corroborating evidence, it means as much as the other speculation and nay-saying written earlier and has just as little to do with reality as we know it. This is probably why Neotel is launching their wireless offerings first - in order to enter the market, provide services to consumers that desperately need an alternative to Telkom while sorting out their fixed-line offerings in due course as more details around LLU is made available and avoid pre-emptive predictions that may or may not have any relevance. If Neotel Wireless is suitable for my gaming needs, why would I want to go back to fixed-line and suffer cable-theft, non-service, line-quality issues etc.? That is, of course, IF Neotel can keep their promise around providng QUALITY SERVICE.

 

[Ricard]

Aw cummon! SA comsumers are puppy dogs... give them a pat on the head and they p1ss themselves.

Telkom said '8 Meg trials' and everyone flocked there.... then they were not capping at all... and even more people flocked there.

Telkom doesnt have to woo anyone... just make a fake promise of 'something' and the SA consumers are stupid enough to run back with their wallets.

Its been proven already... many times over.

 

[pjj]

I like many others, can't wait to jump ship. As far as I am concerned, Telkom can go to hell, they will never woo me back.

 

[ic]

Agreed LLU is still some way down the road but 'predictions' are a dime-a-dozen without more information from Neotel on how they plan to provide the xDSL service.

For all we know, Neotel could be planning on simply shortening the copper line by deploying their own fibre-based SDC points in communities and only using Telkom's current copper on a shared basis. This move would mean improved service and speeds from the SDC point to the Neotel backbone. But it would also mean carrying all issues / problems with Telkom's existing copper lines up to the SDC. I've had more issues with Telkom copper lines since I cancelled my ISDN and went to ADSL than I care to repeat. Per my logic, it might be more expensive initially, but in the long-run it would be better for Neotel to run their own copper lines to customer's homes upon request in order to ensure a better service.

The only issue then would be for the SAPS to manage cable-theft syndicates and purchase points.

Those are my 'predictions' but without any corroborating evidence, it means as much as the other speculation and nay-saying written earlier and has just as little to do with reality as we know it. This is probably why Neotel is launching their wireless offerings first - in order to enter the market, provide services to consumers that desperately need an alternative to Telkom while sorting out their fixed-line offerings in due course as more details around LLU is made available and avoid pre-emptive predictions that may or may not have any relevance. If Neotel Wireless is suitable for my gaming needs, why would I want to go back to fixed-line and suffer cable-theft, non-service, line-quality issues etc.? That is, of course, IF Neotel can keep their promise around providng QUALITY SERVICE.

If NeeTel ever does offer an xDSL service, to be competitive, NeeTel's future xDSL will have to be [searchforum]FTTC[/searchforum] - I seriously doubt it will be [searchforum]FTTH[/searchforum] - the only exception being complexes.

 

[Roman4604]

I predict the actual use of LLU by Neotel (or anyone else) is a long way off. Before one can look at LLU from a technology point of view, one has determine if it works from a business case point of view i.e. will it provide a reasonable ROI.

Using past history its unlikely its going to look good finanacially for prospective LLU providers unless the regulator controls cost pricing very strictly (again not terribly likely).

Just look at the partial un-bundling we've had so far, namely Telkom's IPConnect (entire customer access loop un-bundling). Besides IS, who've only managed to get a very minimal share of the total ADSL market, no one of noticible size has taken up this opportunity due to un-attractive costing.

What's going to change with genuine LLU (inc. related factilities leasing)? In fact IS have commented that they don't currently see the business case for real LLU, and most of the other providers have commented something along the lines of 'when/if it happen we'll check it out then, but we're not really chasing it'.

 

[LifelongGamer]

If NeeTel ever does offer an xDSL service, to be competitive, NeeTel's future xDSL will have to be [searchforum]FTTC[/searchforum] - I seriously doubt it will be [searchforum]FTTH[/searchforum] - the only exception being complexes.

FTTC / FTTH - it doesn't matter really as it will still be an improvement over what we have now.

Doesn't change the fact we're STILL speculating. Neotel could turn around and not offer xDSL at all as the market demand for it might be too low when LLU is complete. We simply do not know what will happen. If you do, please PLEASE tell me this Saturday's Lotto jackpot numbers

The simple truth is we need more reliable / verifiable information. We've been 'guessing' for years about Telkom and their ADSL services, ICASA's pathetic regulations, pricing dropping, speeds improving, etc. Where has that gotten us? Nowhere. Same will happen with Neotel unless we stop speculating and demand information to allow us, the consumer, to make informed decisions going forward. I'm sure Neotel will have to make public statements in the coming months if they are indeed to commence residential services.

 

[Sapphiron]

The only good Telkom CEO is a dead one.

Or rather a broke one.

 

[Glordit]

I still want to know how Glordit has lived in SA and has managed to never deal with Telkodemonopolies - it defies the laws of the guavamentalists...

Tired of getting bad service? scared of opening the phone bill every month? Need a micro loan to pay your Internet?

Well you need!

Glordit's 3 Ez' steps to remove Telkom from your life!! yes Folks that Ez with a E & a Z

1. Don't have it? Can't pay! - Yes, it's true if you don't have a telkom phone line or DSL you don't have to pay for phone calls or Internet!

2. Did some one say... Cellphone? - these days cellphone call's are as much or a little less than a Landline call, so switch to a cellphone! - and if people complain tell them it's a share call

3. Do! Wireless - Probably the only down side of it all! Wireless internet some packages come in a R300 for uncapped *shaped* so you just have to grit your teeth with this one and play CSS with a ping of 100 on a good day and... well you'll see on a bad day...

well atleast you can have all the porn & music you wanted without getting capped

 

[Shake&Bake]

^ thats a bold statement - but even with wireless - you can't escape the beast - everything either terminates or goes through it

 

[AirWolf]

^ thats a bold statement - but even with wireless - you can't escape the beast - everything either terminates or goes through it

Exactly

 

[ic]

2. Did some one say... Cellphone? - these days cellphone call's are as much or a little less than a Landline call, so switch to a cellphone! - and if people complain tell them it's a share call

Telkodemonopolies also charges the cellular network operators exorbitant pricing - which the cellular network operators are in turn forced to extract from their customers, i.e. you.

3. Do! Wireless - Probably the only down side of it all! Wireless internet some packages come in a R300 for uncapped *shaped* so you just have to grit your teeth with this one and play CSS with a ping of 100 on a good day and... well you'll see on a bad day...

Wireless network operators & WISPs are still required to pay Telkodemonopolies, that money is derived from the pockets of their customers and handed to Telkodemonopolies.

All your communications are monopolised by Telkodemonopolies.