Telkom's secretive
about new product
ADSL
South Africa (Broadband South Africa), 14 March
2007
Telkom is
secretive about a new product that may introduce a one-price
ADSL service as early as May this
year.
Telkom’s Group Executive for Corporate
Communication, Lulu Letlape, confirmed that Telkom is “…working
on such a product, but cannot divulge further details” (One
price ADSL service on the cards, MyADSL, 13 March
2007).
What’s mend by a ‘one-price ADSL
service’?
Let’s explain. Currently you have
to buy three different components when you decide to get ADSL
broadband: Analogue line rental, ADSL access and an ISP
account. Internet service providers (ISPs) currently only
resell the ISP component of the service, putting them at a
severe disadvantage to Telkom’s own ISP, TelkomInternet (One
price ADSL service on the cards, MyADSL, 13 March
2007).
This is however about to change
if Telkom manages to introduce a ‘one-price ADSL service.’ This
service will enable ISPs ‘…to offer their customers a one-price
ADSL service, simplifying the current ADSL pricing models and
also allowing them to offer their customers better service’
(One price ADSL service on the cards, MyADSL, 13 March 2007).
In other words, such a service will enable ISPs to offer an
almost one stop ADSL service with all the benefits that comes
with such a service.
How is
it going to work?
Putting aside all speculation it should be
something along these lines:
-
ISP burdened with
installation
– Your
preferred ‘…ISP will then interface with
Telkom and be burdened with the installation
of the service’ (One price ADSL service on
the cards, MyADSL, 13 March
2007).
However, don’t worry about how it’s going to
work, just know that it will be much better than the system
that’s currently in place.
What about standard analogue line rental and
physical line installations?
Unfortunately these will still be
under the ‘caring hand’ of Telkom.
What will be the main benefits of such a
service for me as an ADSL broadband user or
subscriber?
The main benefits can be listed as
follow:
-
Cost
savings – ‘After the ADSL line is
active it will be billed to the ISP at a discounted
rate, a saving which may be passed on to consumers’
(One price ADSL service on the cards, MyADSL, 13
March 2007).
-
‘One stop ADSL
service’ – ISPs will be able to
offer their customer an almost one stop ADSL
service. Almost because ‘…Telkom will continue to
charge the line rental component separately’ (One
price ADSL service on the cards, MyADSL, 13 March
2007). It seems that Telkom won’t scrap ‘…the
compulsory analogue telephony component which
accompanies any ADSL service’ (One price ADSL
service on the cards, MyADSL, 13 March
2007).
-
Less
confusion – The average Joe like you
and me will be less confused when it comes ‘…to
order a full ADSL service and how much everything
will cost’ (One price ADSL service on the cards,
MyADSL, 13 March 2007).
Can any
step by Telkom in the direction of a ‘one-price ADSL service’
be seen as innovative or
groundbreaking?
Not by a far shot because single
priced broadband services are already the norm internationally,
and Telkom’s refusal to scrap the compulsory telephony
component, stands in the way of a truly ‘one-price ADSL
service’ or one stop ADSL service.
Telkom will try to convince you
that they’re the saviours but don’t be fooled by
this.The introduction of
such a system in South Africa is long overdue. The only reason
Telkom is suddenly interested in introducing such a system is
because of the pressure that’s coming from many ISPs and
customers alike and because they think it will give their
marketing campaign a boost (or encourage you to handover your
hard-earned money more willingly). The awakening of the little
giant, Neotel, might also be a reason why they suddenly pretend
to be nice.
ADSL South Africa (Broadband
South Africa) welcomes any efforts to introduce a ‘one-price
ADSL service’ in South Africa.
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