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13
Oct 2010 |
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Incoming mobile operator, Telkom Mobile, will hit the ground running as ITWeb has exclusively learnt the newcomer will offer Microsoft's latest Windows 7 smartphone range upon launch. While commenting on the availability of Windows Phone 7 devices in SA, Microsoft marketing lead for Windows Phone, Nkosi Kumalo, let slip that Telkom Mobile will carry the new smartphones at launch. It is speculated that Telkom Mobile will be officially unveiled tomorrow evening, as the fixed-line operator has invited the... |
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13
Oct 2010 |
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Consumers have felt ripped off for years, and understandably so. Prices for telecommunication services (both voice and data) have been higher than in other parts of the world. Not only are we 9000 kilometers away from Europe, we've historically only had access to the "world" via a single undersea cable operated by a former monopoly (Telkom's SAT-3 cable). There have been promises of competition for years and some false starts. The entry of Neotel offered much hope. But with (unnecessarily) complicated... |
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12
Oct 2010 |
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First came "082" and "083" for Vodacom and MTN, then "084" for Cell C when the third mobile operator launched a decade ago. Now a new number prefix will be introduced this week, and it belongs to Telkom. No, it's not "085?. Rather, Telkom's new mobile arm, which will launched later this week at a function at Lanseria airport, has been granted the "081" number range by the Independent Communications Authority of SA, TechCentral has learnt. It's a coup for Telkom to secure "081" rather than "085".... |
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12
Oct 2010 |
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Converged telecoms operator Neotel has responded to heavy criticism of its consumer focus with a complete revamp of its core offerings, but analysts are adamant there is still room for improvement. Among the new offerings, Neotel has introduced identical voice tariffs for prepaid and postpaid packages, free evening and weekend on-network weekends, and a new entry-level data package for R99 per month. The company has also deployed a billing system which it says will improve billing accuracy and information... |
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12
Oct 2010 |
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Neotel took another stab at the consumer market, unveiling a refocused consumer range with value-added options and revised tariffs being a few of the most important features. The revised offerings were based on customer feedback and market research and follow a comprehensive review of the company's systems, the company said. The network's revised range includes a variety of new features, such as identical voice rates across prepaid and post-paid packages, a R99 per month data service (500MB data, 500 text... |
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11
Oct 2010 |
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Telkom will be appearing before the Competition Tribunal today to argue for the dismissal of a case that has been brought against it by the Competition Commission and Internet Solutions (IS). The case, which relates to allegations in 2009 that Telkom had abused its dominant positioning in the market for the provision of telecommunication network facilities, is the second anti-competitive case brought by the commission against Telkom. At today's tribunal hearing Telkom will argue for a dismissal of the... |
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11
Oct 2010 |
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Telecommunications operator Neotel is back for another stab at the consumer market, relaunching its offerings in voice and entry level broadband. The company, which has struggled to make a meaningful impact in the consumer telecoms space in SA, has introduced a high-speed data service for R99/month that includes 500MB of data and 500 free SMSes. It's also done away with differences in tariffs between prepaid and post-paid products and launched prepaid offerings for both voice and data services. Free... |
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11
Oct 2010 |
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Neotel, South Africa's first converged telecommunications operator, today unveiled a refocused consumer offering that offers ordinary South Africans improved access to affordable voice and entry level broadband data products. The company has also enhanced some of its existing packages and announced measures to improve customer service, while reaffirming its commitment to the consumer market. Neotel's revised offerings are based on customer feedback and market research and follow a comprehensive review of ... |
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11
Oct 2010 |
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Telecommunications group Neotel announced new consumer services on Monday and discontinued others. The new products are clearly designed to bolster its competitiveness against Telkom in the fixed line voice and internet space, and to introduce price parity between prepaid and contract tariffs - a first for SA, according to Neotel. The company discontinued some of its high end packages including NeoConnect Prime 10G, 15G and Unlimited, as well as NeoFlex Data 10G and 15G. Neotel said that products such as... |
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11
Oct 2010 |
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Telkom on Monday called on the Competition Tribunal to quash two referrals by the Competition Commission and Internet Solutions (IS) that could see it fined up to R3,5bn for alleged anticompetitive behaviour. In October last year, the commission referred a case of anticompetitive behaviour against Telkom to the tribunal, recommending a fine of 10% of the company's annual turnover for the year ended 31 March 2009 be imposed. IS referred its own concerns to the tribunal a month later. The case started as... |
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11
Oct 2010 |
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Following arguments presented by fixed line operator Telkom, Internet Solutions (IS) and the Competition Commission on Monday, the Competition Tribunal adjourned to make its decision in Telkom's exception application. During the hearing neither Telkom nor IS could reach agreement on all aspects of their dispute. Accordingly, the Tribunal said it would decide the case, including whether it should condone the late filing of IS's submissions to the Tribunal. With respect to Telkom's case against the Commission... |
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10
Oct 2010 |
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Telkom will launch its long-awaited mobile network this week, but "substantial" price cuts will be needed to convince consumers to switch alliance, analysts said. While the official new name of Telkom Mobile is expected to remain a closely guarded secret until the launch on Thursday evening, the widely publicised Heita! advertisements are most likely Telkom's answer to MTN's Ayoba campaign.Following the sale of Telkom's 50% share in cash cow Vodacom, the new mobile operation is seen as crucial for the... |
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8
Oct 2010 |
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State-owned broadcast signal distributor Sentech is getting ready for another go at building a national wireless broadband network, TechCentral has learnt exclusively. This time, though, its promising not to repeat the mistakes that cost it more than R500m when its much-trumpeted MyWireless project failed. Sentech chairman Quraysh Patel says the company is drawing up a business plan that will probably result in it spending about R2bn rolling out a national network based on WiMax technology. The network ... |
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8
Oct 2010 |
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Mobile operator Cell C plans to appeal the ruling by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) to stop using the term 4Gs in its advertising material. The ASAs decision followed on complaints lodged by fellow mobile operators Vodacom and MTN. Cell C said that it was disappointed by the ASA ruling, saying that it did not appear as if the ASA had taken into account its extensive responses to the complaints lodged by its rivals. "We use the term 4Gs to describe not only our new network, but our overall value... |
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7
Oct 2010 |
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The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) on Thursday ruled that Cell Cs new 4Gs campaign is "dishonest" and "misleading" and must be withdrawn with "immediate effect". Cell C, a mobile operator in South Africa, recently launched what is now seen to be the fastest and cheapest mobile broadband in the country, a step up from current 3G offerings by competitors MTN and Vodacom. However it is not technically 4G, but a souped-up form of 3G, offering "speeds of up to 4G". Corne Koch of the ASA admitted that... |
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