ADSL Broadband: ICASA shuns Naked ADSL

ADSL South Africa (Broadband South Africa), 5 December 2011

The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) has made a clear U-turn in regards to the introduction of Naked ADSL in South Africa, effectively giving the green light to Telkom to continue bundling a compulsory voice service with the ADSL data service.

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The above comes after ICASA has failed to include it as an intervention in their findings relating to Local Loop Unbundling (LLU or LLUB), indicating that Naked ADSL will cost consumers more, despite the fact that they previously made noises in the exact opposite direction. ADSL South Africa (Broadband South Africa) simply cannot see why ADSL users must rent a phone line (analogue) or get voice data from Telkom when they only require ADSL services. How can it cost more if something that is a clear extra and not wanted by many ADSL users gets taken away or made optional? ADSL South Africa (Broadband South Africa) is of the opinion that it can only cost more if they like government pull an Enron (Eskom) on us (or wool over our eyes for that matter). In fact, what Telkom is doing is downright illegal according to the new Consumer Protection Act (CPA). Section 13(1) of the CPA “…forbids the bundling of products that forces consumers to sign contracts for services that they do not really require” ( ADSL Broadband: Telkom in hot water regarding voice / ADSL line bundling , ADSL South Africa, 8 August 2011). Unfortunately we live in a day and age where they can pretty much do as they please and where double standards reign supreme. It is worse enough that we’re stuck with an ever failing fiat currency and still they demand more. Despite this, it is important that we don’t sit down and take the fight to them too at least some extent. Thus, if you would like to subscribe to an ADSL service in South Africa, but have no need for voice data or Telkom’s phone line (analogue), then we strongly encourage you to lodge a complaint with the National Consumer Commission (NCC). It can be done here.

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ADSL South Africa (Broadband South Africa) welcomes MWEB’s efforts to promote Naked ADSL in South Africa and truly hopes that other Internet Service Providers (ISPs) will also step up to the plate in defense of Naked ADSL. Needless to say, the introduction of Naked ADSL in South Africa will be beneficial to both us Average Joes and the bulk of ISPs out there.