Telecommuting also becomes more feasible, because broadband allows employees to access corporate back-office systems from anywhere, says Alpohnzo Samuels, broadband officer at Telkom.<\/p>\n
It also allows families and friends to share experiences live over the internet using a webcam, or create a closed user group to share photos and video clips using website services like FaceBook.<\/p>\n
He says Telkom’s vision is to have 850 000 t a million broadband users by 2010. This will give the company a substantial user base to support triple-play services, which include multimedia content such as video on demand and internet protocol TV (IPTV).<\/p>\n
To date Telkom has 300 000 users of its fixed-line ADSL broadband service, up from 256 000 at the end f March, Samuels says.<\/p>\n
ADSL services are available direct from Telkom or through a number of reseller service providers.<\/p>\n
He says ADSL service coverage is mainly in metropolitan areas and large towns, including townships.<\/p>\n
Samuels says the average time to install an ADSL line is 17 days, depending on coverage and availability.<\/p>\n
“We are required by regulation to install the service of a qualifying customer within 30 working days in areas where there is coverage.”<\/p>\n
He says Telkom is monitoring broadband coverage demand through customer feedback and forecasting models.<\/p>\n
Today, in SA, ADSL is mainly used for basic internet access, for which the fastest of its services is more than adequate, Samuels says.<\/p>\n
But speeds will need to increase as the market starts moving to more bandwidth-hungry applications like video on demand. In preparation for this, Telkom is implementing advanced ADSL+ technology, and has started moving the supporting equipment closer to the customer,” he says.<\/p>\n
However, it will require more fibre cables in the ground and it will take time to do this.<\/p>\n
Telkom recently set up Telkom Media, to deliver online entertainment-related content to consumers.<\/p>\n