Actively stopping to use Telkom.

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booswig

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I believe that, if each of us stop using Telkom products once the SNO is here, in a few years we may make a difference to Telkom.

That means:
- Kill your Vodacom contract and go to MTN or Cell-C.
- Kill your Telkom analogue/Diginet/ISDN etc. line and go to the SNO or a company that does not buy bandwidth or services from Telkom.

Initially, I think we should start a small group in Pretoria. All the myadsl.co.za forum members that is worth anything (and wants to make a difference)should join.

We need to get a name and logo.

We need to define what we want to do, and a rough roadmap to get there.

We need to define objectives and goals, strategies and operating principles.

Etc.

If we can get 50 - 100 people in the Pta area I will be delighted.

As a start I would like to propose the following,
- We arrange for a meeting with the management of the SNO, to discuss their assistance they can provide to us.
- We write a nice article to be published in Drum/Huisgenoot/You (yes, common, but, between them more than 50% of the population reads them) about the true costs of telecomunications in SA compared to the world, and how that influences the man on the street/our economy.
- Wait for Telkoms response, and use that and our article to generate an pamphlet for general distribution.
- We get a few sponsors to print a few T-shirts.
- We actively (once or twice per month) start to distribute pamphlets at intersections regarding Telkom, their impact and how we can get them to listen. In the pamphlets we requests people to terminate Telkom related services, and to go to compeditor.

Far fetched. Yes. But, if we can clearly define the problems we have with Telkom, and how they are raping South Africa (R6 billion rand profit ... ?), I am sure that we will convince people to listen.

Take this. If we start with 10 people in 2 months time. That 10 people each convince only one person to:
  • Terminate his Telkom services (once we have a SNO up and running)
  • To spread the word and discuss it with his employer/friends/family, convincing at least another person to also start to turning people (we have to start a chain moving) to also do the same (terminate Telkom services)
we will have reached at least 41 million people in a years time (actually less, only 25 weeks, but at some stage a person will tell an already converted person)

If possible, it should become a disgrace if you have a Vodacom (sic) number. I think it is possible.

Lets start and get a lobby group together, get a foundation going, get an article out, and move from there. Lets see how many people that can only complain we can get moving ... And lets start with Gauteng.
 
Regarding not using Telkom products : I agree.
Regarding not using Voda : I most certainly wont stop using them. I find their service and products far superior to the competition. I wont punish a company that does a good job (regardless who their investors are)
 
People in my company use both Vodacom, MTN and Cell-C. My wife and I, unfortunately use Vodacom, and I think their service is excellent. My business partner have MTN, and he swears by MTN.

Regarding reception of the other companies. It is for all practicle purposes the same.

I am changing over to MTN or Cell-C when my contract expires (unless, if you are reading this Vodacom, you will let me out of your contract with no penalties, then I do it tomorrow). So, I have to get a new number, just another story to tell people when I email them the new contact details.

Think of what you are doing. Personally I think, that Telkom's and Vodacom's service is excellent. Though Telkom have some issues, they do have a good service. Better than MTN, I doubt. All three cellular companies will bend over backwards to please users.

Untill the SNO is up and running, you have to stick with Telkom. But, sticking with Vodacom (that contributed to almost 50% of Telkom's revenues) is part of the problem. We are trying to prove a point, and, if you are not even willing to use a competitor, then we have problems.

Telkom can shut their doors tomorrow, and still laugh all the way to the bank due to all the profits they are raking in due to users (that stick with the same service provider as they think their services are superior.). Sad to see that Telkom (Vodacom) got to you, as you think they are so much more superior that you will not use another company, even though they are part of the problem. Does their phones ring one ring less when you call the help desk ? Why are you calling the help desk ?

So they have VodaWorld. Why, because we stupidly allowed them to grow big enough to dominate the market (again).

We are not trying to make a point regarding who is superior, or who have a better service. We are trying to stop supporting all companies that is contributing to Telkom's bottom line.

I aim to make "owning a Vodacom contract" as bad that even Telkom employees have MTN or Cell-C contracts.

I have a deal for you. You terminate your contract when it expires, and take the knock of the number change (it makes for good stories). Once my contract expires, I'll change that, and invite you for a beer, then we discuss the service differences between Vodacom and the other service providers.

I would like to come too a stage where I can reject all calls coming from Vodacom. That will not make a difference. However, if all the myadsl.co.za forum users start doing that (and tell people that have vodacom number that, by 2008 you will not be answering any calls if the number indicates the Vodacom network), that will make a difference, and be noted.

Now, if we can get a 100,000 people to do that, even companies will start to change over to a different service provider.

We just have to take the small inconvenience to make a difference. You cannot have your bread buttered on both sides. Either be inconvenient for a short time, or just bend over so that they can rape you ... your choice.
 
No.

VodaCom has better reception than the others, a better 110 service, and better service when you need something special done.
And then their is CelluCity. VodaCom and CelluCity have bent over backwards to accommodate some of my (rather unreasonable) requests.

Once again, you can do as you wish, but I will not take my anger out on a company that provides such excellent service and products, just because I dont like their investors
 
lol. It is fine. The problem with South Africa. People can complain, but cannot do something themselves. But I respect your viewpoint.

You prefer waiting for ICASA to do something for you, I prefer trying to mobilize people to do something, two different viewpoints and stances.
 
booswig : Remember that I agree with the rest of your idea. Telkom see data as a major area of growth in the future, and they need it (irrespective of their dividends from Voda), so what you propose will still hurt them financially.

An even easier path is just to convince everybody to go with Sentech MyWireless Classic instead of ADSL. A couple of years ago when Sentech's service and product was bad, the MyADSL community effectivly killed the company. Now they have a great product and service (and are championing the rights of the consumer apparently), but unfortunatly they have no customers. I think that MyADSL should reward them for their remarkable turnaround, and tell people how bad ADSL is (lie if needs be)

What MyADSL taketh away, MyADSL should giveth
 
OK, to date I have convinced 2 people to cancel their ADSL request, and to go to Sentech. Pity I have to work alone.
 
I've left my landline broken - been a week or two now - and am not getting it fixed. What for? I'll just be tempted to use it sometime. I've only got a landline now because I have ADSL. so phone rental+adsl rental - and thats all telkom is ever going to get from me, until the day I can switch to the SNO and tell Telkom to go **** themselves.
 
JStrike said:
No.

VodaCom has better reception than the others, a better 110 service, and better service when you need something special done.
And then their is CelluCity. VodaCom and CelluCity have bent over backwards to accommodate some of my (rather unreasonable) requests.

Once again, you can do as you wish, but I will not take my anger out on a company that provides such excellent service and products, just because I dont like their investors
Click to expand...


...or their ridiculous prices that you love paying for. *kof* cartel *kof*
 
I will stop using telkom once the sno starts their service delivery but i wont leave vodacom either i agree with jstrike they got the best customer service and most of their support staff can help. my brother got mtn and he has been with them for about 3 years and is considering going to vodacom because of the poor service from mtn. and i wont even go near cellc its bad that telkom got a 50% share in vodacom.
 
booswig said:
lol. It is fine. The problem with South Africa. People can complain, but cannot do something themselves. But I respect your viewpoint.

You prefer waiting for ICASA to do something for you, I prefer trying to mobilize people to do something, two different viewpoints and stances.
Click to expand...

Dude i agree 100% with u man. People, myself included up until recnetly, would much rather just sit about and moan about how bad things are and how bad telkom is etc etc ad nauseum. But ask them to actually DO anything about it and they will bite ur head off.

I am sadly stuck with more than one vodacom line at the moment, for varoius reasons, and i cannot get out of them so it easy for me to tell other people to leave vodacom in order to hurt telkom. This is made even harder because vodacom is the best cellular operator in the country by quite some stretch...

I will take up the fight and tell any people i meet that are about to take out a new contract NOT to go with vodacom. But it is hard. people are fickle, uninformed and often ignorant, so it will not be an easy fight.

AS far as dsl and internet goes, a day does not go by when i try to convince someone to cancel their telkom account, relaxed capping or not, and try one of the independent isps. Unfortunately most of the people i speak to use dsl for business and telkom does seem to be amongst the most reliable. I am with IS and am happy with their offerings, but i do not use my dsl for business so if international goes down for a few hours during the day it really isnt the end of the world for me. But i can understand how some users have to choose telkom simply as a matter of good business practice.

Regarding not using dsl at all and going to wireless. This is an interesting option and would certainly hurt telkom a lot. But the last time i checked the whole wireless situation is RSA was pretty shocking- ridiculous installation and setup costs, poor reception not available to all areas, high monthly fees, low caps and slow speeds to name but a few of the main issues...Have these been resolved? Can u give me some more info about this?

Can't wait for the SNO.....
 
But all these people not going with vodacom as theire SP and rather going with mtn or cellc you are still supporting telkom cos everything goes through telkom its just "more" indirect when using mtn
 
DigitalSoldier said:
But all these people not going with vodacom as theire SP and rather going with mtn or cellc you are still supporting telkom cos everything goes through telkom its just "more" indirect when using mtn
Click to expand...

yes, this is exactly the point.

It is one thing to talk the talk when it comes to fighting the evil that is telkom, but when it comes to walking the walk...

Just look at how little attention this thread, and indeed this whole section of the forum will receive.

Its just sad really.
 
booswig said:
People in my company use both Vodacom, MTN and Cell-C. My wife and I, unfortunately use Vodacom, and I think their service is excellent. My business partner have MTN, and he swears by MTN.

Regarding reception of the other companies. It is for all practicle purposes the same.

I am changing over to MTN or Cell-C when my contract expires (unless, if you are reading this Vodacom, you will let me out of your contract with no penalties, then I do it tomorrow). So, I have to get a new number, just another story to tell people when I email them the new contact details.

Think of what you are doing. Personally I think, that Telkom's and Vodacom's service is excellent. Though Telkom have some issues, they do have a good service. Better than MTN, I doubt. All three cellular companies will bend over backwards to please users.

Untill the SNO is up and running, you have to stick with Telkom. But, sticking with Vodacom (that contributed to almost 50% of Telkom's revenues) is part of the problem. We are trying to prove a point, and, if you are not even willing to use a competitor, then we have problems.

Telkom can shut their doors tomorrow, and still laugh all the way to the bank due to all the profits they are raking in due to users (that stick with the same service provider as they think their services are superior.). Sad to see that Telkom (Vodacom) got to you, as you think they are so much more superior that you will not use another company, even though they are part of the problem. Does their phones ring one ring less when you call the help desk ? Why are you calling the help desk ?

So they have VodaWorld. Why, because we stupidly allowed them to grow big enough to dominate the market (again).

We are not trying to make a point regarding who is superior, or who have a better service. We are trying to stop supporting all companies that is contributing to Telkom's bottom line.

I aim to make "owning a Vodacom contract" as bad that even Telkom employees have MTN or Cell-C contracts.

I have a deal for you. You terminate your contract when it expires, and take the knock of the number change (it makes for good stories). Once my contract expires, I'll change that, and invite you for a beer, then we discuss the service differences between Vodacom and the other service providers.

I would like to come too a stage where I can reject all calls coming from Vodacom. That will not make a difference. However, if all the myadsl.co.za forum users start doing that (and tell people that have vodacom number that, by 2008 you will not be answering any calls if the number indicates the Vodacom network), that will make a difference, and be noted.

Now, if we can get a 100,000 people to do that, even companies will start to change over to a different service provider.

We just have to take the small inconvenience to make a difference. You cannot have your bread buttered on both sides. Either be inconvenient for a short time, or just bend over so that they can rape you ... your choice.
Click to expand...

Hey Booswig, its good to see you again! however this time not on #blackstorm ;)
________________

I have taken a Vodacom Talk 120 out about 5 months ago. I was previosuly on Cell C which gave me endless troubles. Slow GPRS, Free Minutes line is always down (when I had it), now they only reactivate the minutes line on the 5th of every month. MTN at the time had major SMS issues and pathetci reception for my area.

Today Cell C is still lacking in quality, it shows that they are the third network operator. MTN has no 3G coverage in my area. Vodacom has 3G and I use VLive rather often. Once a week I use SkyNews or something like that.

I believe Vodacom do indeed offer better services than MTN and Cell C and are indeed more reliable. I was on holiday near East London this Xmas, the place where we were I was the only person that could make phone calls, MTN did not have coverage and the only way a Cell C phone would have worked there was Roaming with Vodacom.

With regards to DSL I am getting 192 installed soon with a TelkomInternet Account. I prefer fixed line over wireless, however I do believe both technologies can work.

Telkom is a problem, but attacking Vodacom because of their shareholders is not correct. I understand where you are coming from but the best idea is to attack Telkom SA themselves and not Vodacom which is Telkom and VodaFone.
 
MrG said:
Telkom is a problem, but attacking Vodacom because of their shareholders is not correct. I understand where you are coming from but the best idea is to attack Telkom SA themselves and not Vodacom which is Telkom and VodaFone.
Click to expand...

you may have a point here.....i just want to get at telkom so very much. They have been the bane of my life for quite some time and are holding the whole country back in ways that they are too stupid and short-sighted to even consider possible...
 
I hate to sound pessimistic, but most people here actually don't give a damn. They just come here to vent then run off into the wind when action is needed.

Even if the SNO was up and running, but Telkom's ADSL service was better than SNO's, people would stay with Telkom. Look at how many people are flocking to TelkomInternet because of their "relaxed" capping policy. I personally would never do that on moral grounds, just as I would NEVER buy Telkom shares. Anyone who did that, is a traitor to what MyADSL/Anti-trust is fighting for.

Anyways I cancelled ADSL because of 1Nov05, I wonder how many did the same?
 
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All telecom co's in South Africa rubish, not just telkom

Telkom is bad, see rest of MyAdsl site.
TelkomInternet is worse, if possible. My personal e-mail box is useless due to spam. I see co-adressees are all Telkom customers. A coincidence or has Telkom Internet given out it's e-mail adress list, similar to old post office stuffing p.o. boxes with junk mail, or my home post box for that matter? Nothing changes, just the name.
Then there is M-Web internet. Our corporate account from Tiscali was given to M-Web without our permission. FTP acces to web site frozen untill a seven page re-application filled in. No attempt to contact us, just the equivalent of an un-civil servant cutting of phone, making one wait in a que, when one gets to the front one is told "Fill out the forms" Account has to be totally re-oppened.
But then M-Web is part of the cell Cell phone cartell as well as being part of the duopoly that controlls our international links. M-Web controlls the non-terestrial link via satelite while Telkom runs the sea cable link.
Telkom, Telkom Internet, Vodacom, MTN, Cell-C, M-Web are all part of the telecom cartel which have neatly sliced up all channels of international communication internally and internationally with as little overlap as possible.
By way of example,Two cafes, one sells tea, the other only coffee cause Icasa forbids overlap. Guess the quality of the tea and coffee.
No competition=No service.
Of course SNO will be given invite to join the party, which from a business point of view they would be stupid to refuse.
BTW I think Telkom technically is world class, there non technical staff and business model needs to be re-staffed by people who havent had lobotomies.
 
got my phone bill.
(phones been broken since 11 feb - and not getting it fixed)
Total fone bill R454.80
(phone 'rental' + adsl 384 'rental' + and R3.12 for the last phone calls I made before the phone broke.
So R451 just for the f*cking privilage of having ADSL.
 
On the subject of our cellular network providers, does anyone know:

  1. When number portability between cellular providers is going to be a reality?
  2. If cellular providers interconnect with each other yet, or do all calls between cellular providers still get passed via Telkom?
 
IanC said:
On the subject of our cellular network providers, does anyone know:

  1. If cellular providers interconnect with each other yet, or do all calls between cellular providers still get passed via Telkom?
Click to expand...

Every single cellular tower has to has a microwave link to telkom. Have a look at a tower there is usually a telkom dish near the top.
So by using any cell network you are still "using" telkom.
 
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