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14
Dec 2010 |
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Telkom has an uphill battle ahead of it when it comes to unbundling the local loop. However, a company with a great deal of experience in what the process entails, BT Group (formally British Telecom), says the SA fixed-line incumbent is on the right track. Providing access to the copper infrastructure that enters business premises and consumers' homes has been hailed as the last remaining regulatory and competitive hurdle to cheap broadband. Communications minister Roy Padayachie has told the partially... |
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13
Dec 2010 |
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The communications ministry said on Monday it noted with concern media reports about a "dossier" containing allegations of widespread corruption at Telkom. However, Minister of Communications Roy Padayachie said he was confident that the Telkom board was "well capacitated" to deal with the matter. Last week Telkom said it was aware that a series of memoranda containing a wide range of unsubstantiated statements relating to an alleged lack of corporate governance in Telkom had been circulated to the media ... |
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13
Dec 2010 |
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From uncapped internet to cheap cellular connectivity, 2010 was one of the biggest years for South African web surfers. Whether you were a new customer or a veteran internet user, there were surprises for everyone. The laying of the SEACOM cable system last year saw the price of bandwidth plummet, with Afrihost leading the way thanks to its 5GB/R145 package. Other ISPs, such as CyberSmart and Axxess were also quick to take advantage. But the real bombshell was dropped in March when MWEB announced its... |
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13
Dec 2010 |
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Telkom acting CEO Jeffrey Hedberg says the telecommunications group is implementing a five-year plan to refocus its energy on growing commercial returns. He says despite the troubles of recent weeks - not least the leaking of damaging dossiers - management and Telkom's board are now more aligned and the "healing process" has begun. He was speaking at the group's annual year-end media lunch, held near Kyalami, north of Johannesburg. "In the past five months there has been momentum brought into the company... |
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13
Dec 2010 |
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The government on Monday told Telkom to "move swiftly" in dealing with allegations of widespread corruption within the company. "I urge them to move swiftly in attending to these allegations to restore investor and public confidence in this crucial asset," Communications Minister Roy Padayachie said in a statement. He was confident Telkom's board would deal with the issue and believed it had a fiduciary responsibility to ensure Telkom observed good governance. "I'm encouraged to note that the board and... |
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10
Dec 2010 |
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A lengthy dossier prepared by the Communications Workers Union (CWU) has plunged Telkom into a state of crisis. The dossier accuses senior Telkom executives of corruption and nepotism. The documents in the dossier consist of internal emails, accounts of whistleblowers and other documents. Acting group CEO Jeffrey Hedberg and head of Telkom South Africa Nombulelo Moholi are two of the executives under attack in the dossier. It accuses Hedberg of running Multi-Links, Telkom's Nigerian subsidiary, into the ... |
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10
Dec 2010 |
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It is estimated that the theft of copper is costing the South African economy an estimated R5 billion per year, as the impact is felt in the telecommunications, electricity supply and the rail services industries, among others. The indirect repercussions of copper cable theft are on a large scale and of greater cost to the South African economy per annum. These indirect effects include poor service delivery, negative investor perception of SA, power outages that could result in poor productivity,... |
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10
Dec 2010 |
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Fixed broadband costs will continue to decline next year, benefiting end-users, but the lower price points will lead to consolidation in the industry and the collapse of smaller Internet service providers (ISPs) that cannot keep up with declining costs. SA's broadband price war started near the end of last year, when local businesses like Afrihost and Axxess took on the market with far cheaper per-gig rates. Then, in March, MWeb led a charge that resulted in a slew of uncapped broadband offers over ADSL... |
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10
Dec 2010 |
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The fallout from allegations of corporate governance breaches at Telkom escalated yesterday as the telecoms group disclosed that the SAPS and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) were conducting criminal investigations into certain activities at Multi-Links, Telkom's loss-making Nigerian unit. The news of the probes caps a tumultuous week for Telkom, which finds itself on the defensive and trying to contain the damage stemming from an explosive 30-plus page whistle-blowing report that the Communications... |
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10
Dec 2010 |
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Fixed-line operator Telkom has finally released the findings of an investigation led by audit and risk firm KPMG into allegations made by former Telkom CEO Reuben September against board chairman Jeff Molobela. News of the report first surfaced in July, shortly after September announced his resignation. The telco only now revealed the findings of the investigation as it responded to a number of allegations levied against it in various whistle-blowing documents that have surfaced in recent weeks. The... |
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9
Dec 2010 |
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Pinky Moholi, managing director of Telkom SA, has hit back at allegations of bribery, corruption and nepotism levelled against her in a controversial whistle-blowing report, arguing the allegations are unfounded and unsubstantiated. The report points to allegations of bribery and corruption regarding a case with radio surveillance company RSSS, as well as allegations of a conflict of interest created by awarding a contract to a company involving Moholi's spouse. The whistle-blowing report is not supported... |
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9
Dec 2010 |
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Telkom has been plunged into crisis following the release of damaging dossiers that accuse top management of poor decision-making and even corrupt and irregular dealings. But senior-level sources at Telkom say the dossiers, which are written anonymously, are the work of a disgruntled former executive, Motlatsi Nzeku, who they believe has his eye on the top job at the telecommunications group. Nzeku on Thursday denied any knowledge of the dossiers and said he had no part in writing or distributing them.... |
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9
Dec 2010 |
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The SA Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Sacci) has introduced a Copper Theft Barometer to try reduce the R5 billion this crime costs the economy each year, a spokeswoman said."The barometer will measure and monitor the extent of copper cable theft in the country on a monthly basis [to raise] the general awareness of the crime," said Peggy Drodskie, executive advisor to the Sacci CEO, in Johannesburg. "The theft of copper is an important issue that does not bode well for the future of South Africa," she ... |
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8
Dec 2010 |
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Neotel and Vodacom have called on their regulator, the Independent Communications Authority of SA (Icasa), to scrap the universal service obligations they agreed to when they were licensed. Instead, they want a competitive bidding process where they can tender to access money in governments Universal Service Fund to provide services. But they donҒt want to be forced to participate. The companies regulatory advisers argued at hearings at Icasa on Wednesday that they should not be a last resort rather than... |
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8
Dec 2010 |
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As an early Christmas present to all their prepaid customers, Cell C has launched Woza Double, an enhancement to its popular Woza Wheneva, which now offers double the free minutes a person would normally get when they recharge with R10 or more. "For every Rand you use to recharge, you receive the airtime paid for and double the number of free Woza minutes which you can use any time during the week. Free Woza minutes can be used all week, Monday to Sunday, so recharge early and take advantage of the free... |
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