Will ICASA turn up the heat?

ADSL South Africa (Broadband South Africa), 20 May 2006

This is the question that remains to be answered in full. At least for the consumers at MyADSL who launched a complaint about the state of ADSL in SA two years ago.

ICASA (The Independent Communications Authority of SA) is hearing opinions from various role-players on draft regulations it issued last year. The primary focus is on the price and quality of service concerning ADSL broadband available in South Africa.

Telkom seems to be once again the main star in the attraction or rather the ‘thorn in the side’, a designation preferred by many. The lame excuses by Telkom experts when asked direct questions by the Icasa panel is just another sure sign of Telkom’s total disregard for consumers. It seems that Telkom’s ADSL service tariffs for one have not fallen since the conception of the service in 2002. In other words, they have really milked the consumer cow without even giving it a day free to graze. And I should know , I've been there , done that and been ripped off! Again and again...

Geoff Rehmet, a consultant on new business development, told the panel that the majority of Internet Service Providers were “relegated to the position of being resellers of Telkom’s services” in the current environment. This statement is true especially when one takes Telkom’s control of the local loop in consideration. In other words, Telkom controls the infrastructure that’s needed to link home to the telecoms exchange.

We can really go into the details here but the point is customers want to see action and not empty babbling, which is currently what Telkom and co are throwing at us...

This is what we hope to see after the hearings: 

• Pressure from ICASA combined with the new SNO’s entrance into the market will turn the heat on long enough to move Telkom into positive action.

It looks like Telkom is feeling some heat because apparently it will be publishing new lowered ADSL tariffs in June. Not that lowered tariffs will mean a change of heart on Telkom’s part but only a long overdue relief for ADSL consumers that have fought a seemingly endless battle with the ADSL god of SA.

We’re sure many consumers just want to see lower prices and better service coming from all of this. We will have to wait and see. But lets not hope for the best - Telkom is known for charging exactly what they please - regardless of the consequences.