- Neotel is nothing without us
It is becoming clearer by the day that Neotel is not the ‘knight in shining armour’ the Average Joes were hoping for. Neotel is fast falling out of favour if one looks at the ever-increasing number of complaints launched against them.
- A rundown of 2008
The year 2009 is on our doorstep, giving us just enough time to do a rundown of noteworthy news pertaining to ADSL broadband and other broadband alternatives in South Africa for 2008.
- Vox Telecom to help Neotel
Earlier this month Neotel and telecoms operator, Vox Telecom, have signed an agreement leaving the door wide open to Vox Telecom to help distribute Neotel’s products.
- Is Internet Solutions moving against the trend?
This is the question one can ask after it has become clear earlier this month that Internet Solutions (IS) has increased their prices for Business ADSL, forcing IS resellers such as Web Africa and Axxess to announce price increases of their uncapped ADSL services in January 2009.
- ADSL South Africa agrees with Groenendaal
Hans vd Groenendaal has hit the proverbial nail on its head earlier this month in an EngineerIT article named: ISPs just don’t get it! (EngineerIT, 8 December 2008).
- Internet Access in SA 2008 Report
The Internet Access in South Africa 2008 Report shows that South Africans can expect a full-swing liberalization of telecoms in SA from the middle of next year.
- Axxess: ISP of the Year
Axxess has come out at the top at the recent MyBroadband Conference, held at Vodaworld, by winning the ‘People’s Choice’ award that goes to the best ISP (Internet Service Provider) of the year.
- ICASA: Hell-bent on destruction
ICASA (The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa) plans to hike license fees with millions of rand, something that will destroy the benefits of the ICASA/VANs judgment.
- Private equity fund to invest millions in SA telecoms
The telecoms revolution in South Africa is fast opening the door to competition. This seems to be the case if one considers that a Middle Eastern private equity fund is planning to invest millions in SA and other African telecoms businesses.
- Strong ADSL growth
The number of people subscribing to ADSL in South Africa continues to grow at a phenomenal rate. This is evident from Telkom’s latest set of financial results, which indicates that Telkom’s ADSL subscriber base has grown with 46.7% over the past financial year to just short of 492 000 subscribers.
- Fastest in SA - ‘Do 3G on the Move’
‘Do 3G on the Move’ or Telkom’s recently launched 7.2Mbps HSDPA service is currently the fastest broadband service available in South Africa.
- Does Telkom want to become a friend of the Average Joe?
ADSL South Africa (Broadband South Africa) believes that Telkom wants to become a friend of the Average Joe. Whether they will succeed is however a different story altogether.
- The coolest broadband ad campaign
ADSL South Africa (Broadband South Africa) is not handing out rewards for the coolest broadband ads, but if this was the case, Nashua Mobile would definitely get the first prize for its ‘Internet-lessness’ ad campaign of 2008.
- Sentech: The end is near
The ANC Government has proven beyond reasonable doubt that they do not want state-owned broadband signal provider Sentech to succeed. This is clear if one takes into consideration a continuous lack of adequate funding.
- NeoFlex broadband offerings
The above is not the name of broadband offerings launched by extraterrestrials but rather the latest addition to Neotel’s arsenal of wireless broadband offerings which will be launched later this month.
- Cheap entry level ADSL: Members only
South African health service provider, Discovery, has jumped on the Broadband ADSL wagon. Discovery is now offering entry level and other Broadband ADSL Packages at very affordable rates through Discovery Vitality.
- Telkom and Virgin Mobile suck at customer support
The Ask Afrika Orange Index survey of 2008 has revealed that Telkom and Virgin Mobile suck when it comes to customer support. Telkom scored 42.76% while Virgin Mobile came in at a low 40.27%, something that Richard Branson will definitely want to address and correct.
- ADSL kicks ass
It’s official, ADSL Broadband has replaced dialup as the connection of choice for SMEs (Small and Medium businesses). This is according to the SME Survey of 2008.
- MyBroadband Conference: 27 November 2008
ADSL and other broadband users should keep Thursday the 27th of November open so that they can attend the 2008 MyBroadband Conference. Speakers such as Douglas Reed, Angus Hay, Pieter Uys and many others will share their views with you.
- SEACOM making progress
SEACOM, one of the undersea cable systems, which is destined to change the South African telecoms market, is making progress considering that the landing station in Mozambique is ready for the docking of the SEACOM cable.
- The best news in years
A judge has denied the Minister of Communications leave to appeal the ICASA/VANs judgment. This is probably the best news to hit the SA telecoms industry in years.
- Chinese money backs bid for Telkom Media
It doesn’t come as a surprise that Chinese money is backing a local consortium that wants to buy a huge chunk of Telkom’s holding in Telkom Media. It is no secret that the Chinese have been eyeing Africa for some time now.
- ‘Forex hell’ at FNB Sandton City
An unstable Telkom Broadband Internet connection is causing havoc at FNB Forex in Sandton City. The problem started about 3 weeks ago and despite the efforts of Telkom technicians things are still not back to normal.
- Neotel: R5bn loan to boost network rollout
Neotel is in the final phase of raising R5bn to further boost its network rollout. This comes after the SNO (Second National Operator) has already spent R2bn on its network rollout.
- iBurst: 250th base station
South African Broadband provider iBurst has completed its 250th base station. This is a sure sign that iBurst’s R350m expansion program, announced in January last year, has added muscle to the iBurst outfit.
- Telkom: No deals until April
The Average Joes working at Telkom will have less to worry about at least until April next year. This is after pressure from unions forced Telkom to agree that no outsourcing deals will be signed until April 2009.
- Neotel: CFO back at work
Neotel’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Arun Gupta, was cleared and is now back at work. This comes after he was suspended in September this year on charges of “improper conduct.”
- Altech’s East Africa strategy
It was enlightening to read elsewhere this week that broadband provider Altech is making inroads in the telecoms industry in East Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, et cetera) despite worsening economic conditions.
- Telkom finally strikes a deal
ADSL South Africa (Broadband South Africa) has recently reported on Telkom’s perceived inability to strike a deal because of a lack of leadership and drive. It is therefore encouraging to know that Telkom has finally taken the first step to get rid of its 50% stake in Vodacom.
- Telkom and ANC in the same boat
It has become increasingly clear in recent months that Telkom and the ANC is in the same boat. The same boat not in terms of cooperation or anything of that sort but rather the boat where there’s a clear lack of leadership and where it seems chaos reign supreme at this time in history.
- Vox will survive and prosper
ADSL South Africa (Broadband South Africa) is of the opinion that Vox Telecom will survive and prosper despite the loss of close to R60m (or less than 5c a share) after the collapse of broking firm, Dealstream Securities.
- Hire decent people
The secret is out: Hire decent people if you want your company to be named as the Best Company to Work For. iBurst has discovered that this strategy pays after the broadband provider was named the Deloitte 2008 Best Company to Work For in the Telecoms & Media, TV, Radio & Press.
- The end of Sentech?
ADSL South Africa (Broadband South Africa) predicts that a continue shortfall in funding and plans to phase out consumer offerings completely will mean the end of state-owned broadband signal provider Sentech.
- Plugg ADSL: New ADSL service
Internet Solutions (IS) has recently launched a new ADSL service called Plugg ADSL. ADSL users in South Africa have so far labelled Plugg ADSL as expensive and complicated.
- Telkom Outsourced
ADSL South Africa (Broadband South Africa) proposes that Telkom changes its name to Telkom Outsourced because it’s clear that the fat cats at Telkom is hell bound on protecting their interests at a great cost, not only to Telkom’s current workers, but also to the rest of South Africa.
- The Vox Telepreneur Story: Part 1
The Vox Telepreneur Story is a story in the making. The man himself, Douglas Reed, share Vox Telecom’s challenges, mistakes and successes since the inception of The Vox Telepreneur concept 18 months ago.
- A big win for telecoms in South Africa
In what can be described as a big win for telecoms in South Africa, the Pretoria High Court has blown the door wide open to increased competition in the telecoms sector. The Court has done this by ruling that Altech has the right to build its own network.
- WiMAX: A little too late?
It has become increasingly evident that the standards-based technology, WiMAX, that makes the delivery of last mile wireless broadband access possible, is not making inroads as expected.
- Alarm signal failure
Alarm signal failure is probably the last thing one needs in an emergency. This is precisely what can happen, if precaution is not taken, if one makes use of some of Telkom’s products and services.
- New Web Africa logo
Web Africa has unofficially revealed the company’s new logo.
- A First for South Africa: Family ADSL
South African ADSL ISP, XDSL, has launched an ADSL package that helps to make Internet browsing friendlier and safer for children. The package, Family ADSL, is a first of its kind in South Africa.
- New ADSL product: “Grow for Life”
Cybersmart has once again launched an innovative ADSL product. This comes after they have launched Nightrider earlier this year, an ADSL product that allows users 5 times their normal download limit after hours between 1am and 7am.
- Neotel flexing muscle
Neotel is flexing muscle if one considers that the Second National Operator (SNO) has managed to sign up close to half of South Africa’s top 350 corporate clients in contracts totaling about R1.5 billion.
- ‘Sell it off and tear it apart’
Telkom is facing a strike this week after wage negotiations with the Communications Workers Union (CWU) and the SA Communications Union (SACU) ended in stalemate.
- Neotel pushing ahead
Neotel supporters will welcome the news that Neotel is still pushing ahead. Neotel has not only launched a WiMAX offering aimed at enterprises, but their consumer broadband offerings will soon be available to consumers in Cape Town and Durban.
- Papi wants to revolutionize telecoms
Papi Molotsane wants to revolutionize the telecoms sector in Africa. He failed to do it while he was the CEO of Telkom; this is why it is unimaginable that he now wants to do it by using wireless services provider, UniNet.
- The fate of telecoms in South Africa
The Altech technology group stands in the center of a court case that will decide the fate of telecoms in South Africa.
- Cable theft out of control
It is certain that cable theft in South Africa, like other crimes, is out of control if one considers Telkom’s lost of R980 million's worth of cable in the financial year that ended in March. This figure does not even include the indirect costs of cable theft in South Africa as a whole.
- Is Telkom losing the broadband war?
It has become increasingly clear that Telkom is losing the broadband war in South Africa. Telkom’s broadband market share has tumbled from 83% in 2004 to 41% currently.
- 512Kbps ADSL speed upgrade
All Telkom’s 4Mbps ADSL users will receive an automatic ADSL speed upgrade of 512Kbps by the end of this month at no additional cost.
- Cheap unlimited ADSL
Cheap Uncapped ADSL Broadband is what we are shooting for in South Africa. We want high monthly usage limits at a cost that does not break the piggy bank.
- Neotel vs. iBurst
It does not take a rocket scientist to figure out that Neotel’s NeoConnect products are competing directly with iBurst’s, but maybe more importantly, that iBurst will have to lower their prices considerably or face the consequences of a consumer exodus to Neotel in the coming months.
- A blooming shame
In what can be described as a blooming shame, Telkom has managed to stop the Competition Commission (CC) from referring Telkom’s anti-competitive dispute with the VANs (SA Value Added Service Providers) to the Competition Tribunal.
- Neotel aims to connect more
Neotel aims to connect more consumers over the coming months by expanding its network. It is also clear that Neotel is planning to offer ‘true’ broadband as can be construed from the company’s current ad campaign.
- Will it be Black Monday for Telkom?
Telkom will announce their latest financial results tomorrow or on Monday the 9th of June 2008. Will it be Black Monday for Telkom? The results will certainly shed more light on Telkom’s future.
- Sexwale wants 100% of Telkom
Tokyo Sexwale’s group of companies, Mvelaphanda Holdings, has submitted an R90bn conditional bid on Friday afternoon for 100% ownership of Telkom.
- ‘Fast, deadly ADSL’
The Canadian company, Genesis Technical Systems or GTS, has developed new broadband technology that promises ADSL speeds of up to 400 Mbps and at a much lower cost than alternatives such as fiber.
- Neotel surprises
It is no secret that South Africa’s second national operator (SNO), Neotel, has recently launched the first of their consumer focused broadband offerings. Neotel has surprised with converged offerings at very competitive prices despite limited coverage at this stage.
- Nightrider to launch soon
Nightrider, Cybersmart’s new innovative ADSL product is set to launch soon. Innovative because it will allow users no less than 5 times their normal download limit after hours between 1am and 7am.
- Google among those who back WiMAX
Google, Intel, Comcast, Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks, all major US-based companies, are in the process of pooling $3.2 billion to start a new company called Clearwire.
- The heat is on
This is how one can describe the mounting pressure on role players to complete Broadband Infraco's African West Coast Cable (AWCC) before the Soccer World Cup in 2010.
- ADSL best for streamed services
It was high-lighted in a Financial Mail article recently that ADSL Broadband remains the connection of choice when it comes to streamed services such as VoIP.
- Telkom’s ADSL service still sucks
This might not come as a surprise to ADSL users in South Africa but it might comes as a surprise to Telkom. ADSL users making use of Telkom’s ADSL Broadband service can attest that slow installations, non-existent customer service and unreliable ADSL Broadband connections do not form part of what one can deem as a great ADSL Broadband service.
- Neotel launches first consumer package
Neotel has launched the first of their consumer packages on Friday. This must come as great news to entrenched consumers in South Africa.
- Telkom might fall flat on its face
Telkom might fall flat on its face when it gets a R3.7bn fine for anti-competitive behaviour. This will be the case if the telecoms giant loses its challenge in the Pretoria High Court to proof that the Competition Commission had overstep boundaries when they referred a certain case to the Competition Tribunal.
- Phishing scam warning to ADSL users
ADSL users who make use of the ADSL Broadband service offered by Telkom Internet should take care not to respond to emails that are sent in a new phishing scam.
- Telkom Roller Coaster
ADSL South Africa (Broadband South Africa) can’t think of a better way to describe Telkom’s tendency to attract the same old bad press by referring to it as the ‘Telkom Roller Coaster.’
- Less than 25 days to go
Neotel has confirmed that their consumer (residential) services will be launched before the end of April. This means that we have less than 25 days to go before the launch of Neotel’s long awaited consumer services.
- iBurst offers ADSL and HSDPA
iBurst now offers ADSL Broadband and HSDPA services in addition to the wireless Internet service they have been offering since the company’s launch in 1997. iBurst’s Internet access offerings now come in the form of iBurst Wireless, iBurst ADSL and iBurst HSDPA.
- Cheaper bandwidth on the horizon
The construction of the East African Submarine Cable System (EASSy) has started despite previous delays. ADSL and other broadband users in South Africa have something to smile about because the prospect of cheaper bandwidth landing in South Africa sooner rather than later is now stronger than ever.
- MTN and Sundowns end partnership
MTN South Africa has decided not to renew its sponsorship agreement with well-known Mamelodi-based soccer club: Mamelodi Sundowns. This comes after the parties could not agree on the terms of a possible new agreement.
- Broadband in SA growing
It is clear that broadband in South Africa has been growing despite regulatory hurdles that have resulted in limited and expensive bandwidth and uncertainty.
- Slower connection better than nothing
It is no secret that self-install ADSL subscribers currently have to wait 4-6 weeks for ADSL Broadband connections. The reason for this is because subscribers have to wait on Telkom to process their applications, and we all know how fast Telkom is when it comes to service delivery.
- JHB to London without Telkom
JHB to London without Telkom is what businesses can get after Neotel’s full international network has gone live on the SAT3 undersea cable system. An event that’s surely worth celebrating among friends.
- Will the CC rule against Telkom?
It is no secret that the Internet Service Providers’ Association of South Africa (ISPA) has lodged a complaint with the Competition Commission (CC) against Telkom in 2005. It will come as good news to many that the CC is planning to rule in the relevant case before June this year.
- Vodacom to offer own ADSL soon
Word is out that Vodacom will be launching its own ADSL Broadband offering in April this year as part of the service menu offered by Vodacom Business. This will definitely sit well with ADSL users in South Africa, especially ADSL business users.
- iBurst’s broadband plans for 2008
iBurst has big plans in terms of broadband for 2008. iBurst’s plans include: A speed increase and setting themselves up as an one-stop-broadband-provider who will provide ADSL Broadband, WiMAX and other Internet access services as well.
- 1 000 000
Touchwood, South Africa will soon reach the 1 000 000 mark in terms of the number of broadband subscribers in South Africa.
- Google set to ‘light up Africa’
The penetration of the mobile market in South Africa forms part of Google’s quest, in the words of Dr Douglas Merrill, VP of engineering at the Internet giant, to ‘light up Africa’.
- Telkom to go mobile
All the signs are there that Telkom wants to go mobile or start mobile operations of their own. This is the despite the fact that Telkom refuses to comment on the matter. Will Telkom become South Africa’s fourth mobile network operator?
- 640 Kbps ADSL upload speeds
All Telkom’s 4 Mbps DSL subscribers will enjoy ADSL Broadband upload speeds of 640 Kbps if Telkom’s current pilot project to increase upload speeds of their DSL 4 Mbps product is successful.
- Back from Jeffreys
The ADSL South Africa (Broadband South Africa) team is back from a weeklong ‘strategy planning session’ in Jeffreys Bay.
- ADSL Broadband: Prevention better than cure
ADSL users have recently experienced problems with their ADSL Broadband connections caused by a combination of factors: Cable theft, power outages, thunderstorms, broken submarine cables, et cetera. In this article we will look at comical as well as ‘serious ways’ to prevent those teething ADSL Broadband problems from surfacing again.
- New ADSL business bundle
Business ADSL users will welcome Internet Solutions’ (IS) and Nology’s partnership to bring to market a comprehensive ADSL Broadband bundle optimized for business purposes. Nology will be supplying Billion ADSL routers as part of the deal or partnership.
- Will Neotel surprise us?
Will Neotel surprise us with favorable Internet access rates? This is the question one can ask after Neotel recently released their proposed or preliminary enterprise call rates and billing system, which definitely left a better than expected aroma in the air. This is especially true when compared to Telkom’s current call rates and minimum call charge billing system.
- Big canon ready to fire
One of Neotel’s ‘big canons’, Infraco, is ‘ready to fire’. Infraco is the state-owned national broadband provider that was created to help lower the cost of broadband in South Africa and to make broadband accessible to a wider South African audience.
- A perfect match?
Will Cell C and Telkom be a perfect match? This is the question we can ask after Middle Eastern telecoms company, Oger Telecom, has made an offer to buy a huge chunk of Telkom, which the South African telecoms giant is now considering. Details remain sketchy at best so we can only speculate at this stage.
- 3.6 Mbps HSDPA officially launched
MTN and Vodacom have officially launched 3.6 Mbps High-Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) services of their own. MTN is the first mobile provider in South Africa to officially launch such a service.
- The long wait is almost over
Neotel is still on track to launch their high-speed Internet or broadband Internet offerings in the 1st quarter of this year. This comes after the company received a high percentage of positive feedback from customers who are making use of their pilot service currently.
- Vox Telecom acquires another ISP
Vox Telecom, formerly known as DataPro, has acquired JHB based Internet Service Provider (ISP), Online Digital Solutions (ODS).
- Massive project planned for Limpopo
The Limpopo government plans to connect 6000 sites, including 4400 schools and a number of clinics and hospitals in the Limpopo province to the Internet through a massive wireless broadband technology project.
- Bright future for ADSL in South Africa
Telkom, which has the largest ADSL Broadband subscriber base in South Africa, has left no doubt in our minds that they will reach their ADSL Broadband target of 700 000 subscribers by 2011. This surely sketches a bright future for ADSL Broadband in South Africa.
- Fiber based ADSL Broadband Packages
Openweb recently became the first Internet Service Provider (ISP) in South Africa to launch Fiber based ADSL Broadband Packages. These packages will run on a new network that’s called the IS Fiber International ADSL network.
- Use your Internet connection to save money
Use your ADSL Broadband or alternative broadband Internet connection to save money in 2008 by dumping traditional fax services for modern day fax services.
- MWEB waiting on green light from ICASA
MWEB plans to extent their WiMAX trial to more users but are waiting on The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) to give them the green light. This comes after the company has already trialled their WiMAX service for several months.
- 3.6 Mbps HSDPA here soon
MTN and Vodacom have indicated that they will launch 3.6 Mbps High-Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) offerings ‘soon’ despite problems currently experienced with a lack of sufficient backhaul bandwidth in South Africa.
- Vox Telecom turns up the heat
Vox Telecom, formerly known as DataPro, has turned up the heat by announcing that the users of their ADSL Broadband based VoIP service, VoIP Phone, will be able to make peak as well as off peak on-net calls for free. This effectively eliminates the 15c per minute previously asked for on-net calls during peak time.
- Eskom outdone even Telkom
South African energy supplier, Eskom, which generates 95% of the electricity in South Africa, has outdone even South African telecoms giant Telkom. This comes after several power outages have already caused considerable damage to the South African economy, and if the severe power outages continue, it will surely ruin our economy and permanently destroy our way of life in the process.
- Vodacom plans price cuts
Vodacom plans to cut the price of their 3GB packages next month with up to 14.5% depending on the chosen package.
- A little too late?
This is the question one can ask after iBurst recently made it clear that they are planning to make life easier for online gamers that make use of their network. The Beta testing phase of their planned online gaming service will kick off soon...
- Undersea cable systems: Mixed progress
The progress of the SEACOM and EASSy (The East African Submarine Cable System) undersea cable systems can be described as ‘mixed’. Although SEACOM has already entered the cable construction phase, it seems that EASSY has not entered the construction phase in mid-December last year as promised (if one can take the consortium’s silence as a sign that construction has not started on time as promised).
- Telkom ADSL top-up service launched
It was nice to read about a week ago that Telkom has officially launched their ADSL Broadband top-up service.
- Vodacom on track
Vodacom is on track to launch ADSL Broadband, WiMAX and WiFi product offerings of their own. This in itself makes it an interesting year for broadband in South Africa.
- Telkom answers iBurst’s war cry
Telkom has indicated that they will launch a ‘free local ADSL bandwidth promotion’ in February this year. This comes after wireless Internet access provider, iBurst, gave away a total of 4.06 terabytes of bandwidth in October last year.
- Is the market over reacting?
This is the question one can ask after Telkom’s share price came crushing down with over 40% from a high of R190.99 last year. This is even when one takes into account overall negativity on world markets.
- Broadband service in SA needs to improve
It is clear from the recent Broadband Survey done by MyBroadband that Internet Service Providers (ISPs) must take steps to improve the performance of their broadband services or risk losing subscribers.
- Get ADSL for a holiday that lasts
It’s the time of the year when most people, including parents and children, are back from the December holidays. It’s also the time of the year when most kids are getting ready to go back to school or get to go to school for the first time. It’s also time to get ADSL Broadband if you want a holiday that lasts.
