Comments on: ICASA: Death by Bureaucracy http://manypossibilities.net/2008/02/icasa-death-by-bureaucracy/ In the beginner's mind there are... Thu, 20 Nov 2008 14:58:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Steve Song http://manypossibilities.net/2008/02/icasa-death-by-bureaucracy/#comment-433 Steve Song Wed, 08 Oct 2008 14:51:13 +0000 http://manypossibilities.net/2008/02/icasa-death-by-bureaucracy/#comment-433 @Gerrard. That borders on shameless self-promotion :-) but I'll let it go because I think it is exactly the sort of competition that South Africa desperately needs. You're right that there will never be real competition until we have decent regulation on local-loop unbundling. I wish I could agree with you about the quality or value-for-money from Telkom's ADSL service but I suppose mileage varies and it depends what you are you comparing it to. @Gerrard. That borders on shameless self-promotion :-) but I’ll let it go because I think it is exactly the sort of competition that South Africa desperately needs.

You’re right that there will never be real competition until we have decent regulation on local-loop unbundling.

I wish I could agree with you about the quality or value-for-money from Telkom’s ADSL service but I suppose mileage varies and it depends what you are you comparing it to.

]]> By: Gerrard http://manypossibilities.net/2008/02/icasa-death-by-bureaucracy/#comment-432 Gerrard Wed, 08 Oct 2008 14:23:43 +0000 http://manypossibilities.net/2008/02/icasa-death-by-bureaucracy/#comment-432 Yes. Telkom is problematic at best. However alternative options are coming forward. The problem with Telkom is to date there was no one to compare them to. You might actually realize later that their service is not that bad (as we realized with BT’s service in London, when we stayed there for a while). New companies are Neotel and the value added service providers (or non fix line providers) like Vox Telecom which has recently released the ADSL phone ( view product on http://www.adslphone.co.za ) . Product like these can significantly reduce phone bills and actually earn people some income. The problems with non fixed line providers like Vox telecom are that you still required a fixed line from either Telkom or Neotel. This in the end will boost Telkom over all profits. I think Telkom will in the end score all the way with handing out licences to VAN's. But the rates of these VAN's are SIGNIFICALY cheaper and in many cases your phone bill can disappear completely with the FREE call service for both home and small businesses users. Then there is the added benefit of basic PABX functionality and free cordless phones. Most of the Value added providers uses VoIP (or voice over the Internet) to reduce costs with least cost routing options. I still think though that the ADSL data service from Telkom is good and would recommend it. Then simply add on your ADSL phone and you will have the best of both worlds. Yes. Telkom is problematic at best. However alternative options are coming forward. The problem with Telkom is to date there was no one to compare them to. You might actually realize later that their service is not that bad (as we realized with BT’s service in London, when we stayed there for a while). New companies are Neotel and the value added service providers (or non fix line providers) like Vox Telecom which has recently released the ADSL phone ( view product on http://www.adslphone.co.za ) . Product like these can significantly reduce phone bills and actually earn people some income. The problems with non fixed line providers like Vox telecom are that you still required a fixed line from either Telkom or Neotel. This in the end will boost Telkom over all profits. I think Telkom will in the end score all the way with handing out licences to VAN’s. But the rates of these VAN’s are SIGNIFICALY cheaper and in many cases your phone bill can disappear completely with the FREE call service for both home and small businesses users. Then there is the added benefit of basic PABX functionality and free cordless phones. Most of the Value added providers uses VoIP (or voice over the Internet) to reduce costs with least cost routing options. I still think though that the ADSL data service from Telkom is good and would recommend it. Then simply add on your ADSL phone and you will have the best of both worlds.

]]> By: Steve Song http://manypossibilities.net/2008/02/icasa-death-by-bureaucracy/#comment-20 Steve Song Mon, 17 Mar 2008 08:43:57 +0000 http://manypossibilities.net/2008/02/icasa-death-by-bureaucracy/#comment-20 I understand that the motivation for the two phase process was largely in response to interventions from Sentech and Neotel who have recently paid large license fees to become telecom operators. If ICASA convert all the VANs licenses to ECNS licenses, then they will have paid those sums essentially for nothing. My response to this may be a little naive but I say <b>Give the license fees back! and let competition flourish.</b> The opportunity cost of not allowing competition is guaranteed to be far more expensive than those fees. Experience from elsewhere in the world tells us that 3 operators is not enough to ensure competition. I understand that the motivation for the two phase process was largely in response to interventions from Sentech and Neotel who have recently paid large license fees to become telecom operators. If ICASA convert all the VANs licenses to ECNS licenses, then they will have paid those sums essentially for nothing.

My response to this may be a little naive but I say Give the license fees back! and let competition flourish. The opportunity cost of not allowing competition is guaranteed to be far more expensive than those fees. Experience from elsewhere in the world tells us that 3 operators is not enough to ensure competition.

]]> By: Mike Jensen http://manypossibilities.net/2008/02/icasa-death-by-bureaucracy/#comment-19 Mike Jensen Sun, 16 Mar 2008 06:45:42 +0000 http://manypossibilities.net/2008/02/icasa-death-by-bureaucracy/#comment-19 Apparently ICASA has also 'priveleged' the incumbents (Telkom, Neotel, Sentech and the mobile operators) by allocating them all of the available WiMax radio spectrum, leaving none for any potential new entrants. Interestingly this may have the side-effect of stimulating the use of WiFi! Mike Apparently ICASA has also ‘priveleged’ the incumbents (Telkom, Neotel, Sentech and the mobile operators) by allocating them all of the available WiMax radio spectrum, leaving none for any potential new entrants. Interestingly this may have the side-effect of stimulating the use of WiFi!
Mike

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