One Price ADSL Broadband
Click here for a full list of factors to consider when getting ADSL
Broadband.
In this section of ADSL South Africa (Broadband South Africa) our focus will be on One Price ADSL
Broadband in South Africa. We shall not go into all of the details here but you will have a pretty good idea
of what One Price ADSL Broadband is.
One Price ADSL Broadband refers to an ADSL Broadband service where the subscriber pays one bill
instead of separate bills for the same ADSL Broadband service. The amount you pay is the total cost to have
ADSL Broadband. This service is also referred to as a single price ADSL Broadband service, a single bill ADSL
Broadband service, a combined price ADSL Broadband service, a single-cost ADSL Broadband service, an
all-in-one ADSL Broadband service, a combined ADSL Broadband service, a single ADSL
Broadband account service,
etc. Do not worry if you don’t understand all of it yet…
To better understand One Price ADSL Broadband, we first need to look at the
traditional or conventional way of getting ADSL Broadband in South Africa and then at the relatively new or
alternative way of getting ADSL Broadband in South Africa. To make things easier, let's assume for a second
that Telkom is the only ADSL fixed-line provider in South
Africa.
Ok, first the traditional or old-fashioned way…
The Traditional Way
The traditional pricing structure prescribes that the ADSL consumer
has to purchase three separate components:
‘The first two services must be purchased from
Telkom while the third part can be purchased from a variety of ISP’s’ (Why a Single-Cost ADSL service, MyADSL, 20
June 2006).
In other words, under the traditional system one has to buy both the
standard analogue line and ADSL access portion from Telkom and the ADSL Broadband Provider (ADSL ISP) portion
from the ISP of your choice (which may include TelkomInternet).
Under the traditional system
you basically sit with two separate bills: One coming from Telkom and one coming
from your preferred ISP (excluded TelkomInternet).
Under the traditional system you can only go for a single ADSL
Broadband account solution if you choose TelkomInternet as your preferred ISP (Internet Service
Provider). At great cost though, because it’s no secret that TelkomInternet is not the cheapest ISP
around. Meaning that if you prefer them as your ISP, under the traditional system, chances are good that
you’re going to overpay for something you could have got much cheaper
elsewhere.
Now let’s look at the new or alternative way of getting ADSL
Broadband…
One Price ADSL Broadband
The defining feature of the One Price ADSL Broadband system is
that you only pay one bill to get ADSL Broadband and not separate bills like under the traditional
system.
‘This new model gives ISPs the ability to provide customers with a
single bill for their ADSL service, something service providers have been hankering after for a long time’
(Combined ADSL offerings start to see the light, savings in store for consumers, MyADSL, 17 April
2007).
In other words, you get a single bill for your ADSL
Broadband service.
Advantages and Disadvantages
While true One Price ADSL Broadband is not yet available in South
Africa (except from Telkom) because of Telkom that prefers to play hardball, we’re nonetheless moving towards
the acceptance of a much better ADSL Broadband pricing model…
The truth is that we shall never see a true One Price ADSL
Broadband service while Telkom acts as a wholesaler (the selling of goods to merchants; usually in large
quantities for resale to consumers – WordWeb) as well as a retailer (the selling of goods to consumers;
usually in small quantities and not for resale – WordWeb).
Why is Telkom playing hardball?
Because it’s ‘…better to ensure that you keep control over the full fixed line
broadband market than to force every client to purchase at least one component from you…’ (Why a Single-Cost ADSL
service, MyADSL, 20 June 2006).
Nonetheless, let’s look at the advantages and disadvantages of One
Price ADSL Broadband from the ADSL Broadband consumer’s
perspective:
Advantages of One Price ADSL
Broadband
-
Fault Resolution
– ‘If a customer uses an ISP other than TelkomInternet it is often
out of the hands of the independent ISP to assist with the problem. If the problem lies on
Telkom’s side the ISP’s hands are tied and it is virtually impossible to provide good customer
service’ (Why a Single-Cost ADSL service, MyADSL, 20 June 2006). This is not the case with One
Price ADSL Broadband.
In other
words, the subscriber doesn't need to deal directly with Telkom.
Disadvantages of One Price ADSL
Broadband
Sorry, but we can’t think of any disadvantages
from the ADSL Broadband subscriber’s perspective.
What about installation and support?
Your preferred ISP will handle most of the installation and
support...
‘Telkom’s involvement in installations will effectively be isolated to the allocation
of the DSLAM port. What this means in practice is that Telkom technicians are not dispatched to a customer to do
ADSL-related installations or first-level ADSL support’ (All-in-one ADSL price here within weeks, MyADSL, 30 March
2007).
In other words, you don’t have to wait ages on Telkom technicians to come and do the
ADSL line installation. Your preferred ISP will sort it out for you.
Will the new pricing model replace the old one in its totality
soon?
No, not while Telkom is still calling most of the shots.
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