| |
 |
|
24
Aug 2011 |
|
SA's second network operator Neotel has yet to finalise paying a once-off licence fee that dates back to the 2009/10 financial year, raising concerns about its cash flow and ability to continue operating. However, Neotel argues there was no clarity about how much it should pay, and when a fee, if any, was due. Its confusion stems from a change to the regulations in 2009, which abolished the fixed licence fee. Neotel was initially meant to pay a R100 million once-off licence fee to the Independent Communic... |
| |
|
|
23
Aug 2011 |
|
The National Consumer Commission (NCC) is in the process of preparing a compliance notice that will pave the way for consumers to claim damages if Vodacom's networks fail again. However, the notice is focused on network operators' terms and conditions, an area over which the Independent Communications Authority of SA (ICASA) wants to keep control. The two regulatory bodies are currently sorting out the problem of concurrent jurisdictions, and the Vodacom issue is likely to set a precedent as to which... |
| |
|
|
22
Aug 2011 |
|
Further to the recent announcement on reductions in data pricing, Vodacoms Business Services has announced a significant reduction in broadband prices for its Premium Business DSL offerings. "Our premier DSL services cater for the specific needs of businesses in South Africa and provide companies, from SoHos and SMMEs to large corporations, with an Internet connection that delivers greater choice, exceptional quality, increased cost efficiencies and an excellent user experience," says Chris Ross, Managing... |
| |
|
|
19
Aug 2011 |
|
MTN Group will ramp up its capital expenditure after spending less in the six months to June, to improve its operations and network capacity. It will spend about R22.2-billion and is eyeing a total of 20.1 million customers by the end of its financial year. MTN spent R5.7-billion, 32.8 percent lower than last year, because of the delays in the roll-out of "certain capital expenditure projects and a R603-million currency impact". Presenting MTN's interim results yesterday, group CEO Sifiso Dabengwa said... |
| |
|
|
11
Aug 2011 |
|
Vodacom has introduced two new offers that will give customers extra free minutes. The "More Weekend Minutes" offer gives qualifying contract customers up to three hours free talk time per month to use over weekends to call family and friends who are on the Vodacom network. For prepaid customers, the R29 recharge promotion provides customers who recharge with R29 or more with up to one hour free talk time - to be used on the day they recharge. "Night Shift" also allows prepaid customers to talk for free ... |
| |
|
|
11
Aug 2011 |
|
SA's third mobile operator Cell C grew its customer base 12 percent, to 8.2 million subscribers, and revenue 5 percent, to R10.2 billion, by the end of December. The company also improved its share of the local market to 15.4 percent, gaining a percentage point during the year, says chairman Simon Duffy, who is also acting CEO, after the sudden departure of Lars Reichelt last month. Duffy says the cellular company decreased churn 14 percent, and grew blended average revenue per user by 6 percent, to R99 ... |
| |
|
|
11
Aug 2011 |
|
Cell C will introduce new broadband products in the next few weeks and bring its long-running special offers, introduced a year ago, to an end. The company, which has rolled out 1 900 third-generation mobile broadband towers covering 63 percent of the countrys population, says it has sold 120 000 broadband USB modems since it launched its new network in the third quarter of 2010. When it introduced the special offers - offering mobile broadband as low as 3,3c/MB - it shook the competitive landscape, with ... |
| |
|
|
11
Aug 2011 |
|
Not one of SA's telecoms operators lived up to the Independent Communications Authority of SA's (ICASA's) regulations. This is according to the long-awaited compliance reports that were finally published yesterday. The compliance assessments show MTN, Vodacom, Cell C, iBurst, Neotel, Telkom, Sentech and Internet Solutions failed to live up to regulatory requirements for the 2009/10 financial year. According to the reports, SA's telecoms operators did not completely comply with ICASA's end-user and... |
| |
|
|
10
Aug 2011 |
|
Vodacom on Monday announced two offers that are set to provide customers with free minutes to enjoy with friends and family. The More Weekend Minutes offer will provide qualifying contract customers with up to three hours free talk time per month to use over weekends to call family and friends who are on the Vodacom network. Prepaid and top up customers stand to benefit from the R29 recharge promotion. This promotion will provide prepaid customers who purchase a recharge voucher of R29 or more with up to ... |
| |
|
|
10
Aug 2011 |
|
The two largest trade unions at fixed-line telecoms giant Telkom, which represent more than half its total staff complement, are threatening to bring the company to a standstill from 20 August if it does not improve its current wage offer. The Communications Workers Union (CWU), the South African Communications Union (SACU) and Solidarity have been locked in wage negotiations with Telkom for more than five months. However, organised labour is starting to run out of patience with the fixed-line operator,... |
| |
|
|
10
Aug 2011 |
|
It's tempting to say there's a broadband price war in South Africa right now, but actually it's just a skirmish - a skirmish on the fringes of the greater battle. South Africa still pays too much for connectivity. Though it is admirable that the cellphone networks are fighting this out, and producing the cost-cutting deals we've seen in recent weeks, it should not be necessary. A sad indictment of the state of this country is that 8ta has a cheaper broadband offering than its parent, Telkom. It is beyond... |
| |
|
|
10
Aug 2011 |
|
TELKOM is under siege and must change to avoid being overrun by competition, CEO Nombulelo Moholi has warned in a stark message portraying an organisation that appears to have lost its way. Her message is similar to the warning made in February this year by Nokia's CEO, Stephen Elop. He characterised the company's plight in the face of competition from rivals - and its limited choices - to the plight of an oil rig worker standing on a burning platform with the freezing sea as his only option for survival.... |
| |
|
|
10
Aug 2011 |
http://www.itweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=46078&Itemid=
Fixed and wireless broadband in SA is as much as 20 times more expensive when compared to offerings from providers in 18 other countries, which are also classified as emerging markets. The prohibitive cost of broadband in SA is an aspect government has vowed to tackle for several years, yet a recent research report finds connectivity is out of reach for most South Africans. Ovum's Broadband Pricing in Emerging Markets in 2011Ӕ looked at HSPA, WiMax, and DSL broadband services in 19 countries in Asia, East... |
| |
|
|
10
Aug 2011 |
|
The Mobility 2011 research project, conducted by World Wide Worx and backed by First National Bank (FNB), reveals that 39 percent of urban South Africans and 27 percent of rural users are now browsing the Internet on their phones. The study excludes "deep rural" users, and represents around 20-million South Africans aged 16 and above. This means that at least 6-million South Africans now have Internet access on their phones. The big winner in terms of sites and services is Mxit, which enjoys the attention... |
| |
|
|
10
Aug 2011 |
|
The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) on Wednesday published compliance reports of electronic communications and network services companies in South Africa. In the concluding remarks of the compliance reports, Icasa found that all of the companies, except Cell C, adequately complied with the regulations under scrutiny, although there were exceptions where certain regulations needed to be followed up on. Icasa said that it had conducted compliance assessments for MTN, Vodacom, ... |
|
