Telkom claims ADSL success

By Damian Clarkson for Telkom
Johannesburg, 14 Apr 2005

Telkom has heralded the success of its ADSL offerings - despite a four-day inquiry currently under way to investigate numerous complaints about the product.

The company said yesterday its ADSL subscriber base has exceeded 60 000, growing by 10 000 subscribers in the past two months.

Telkom claims the growth is due to the 12% price reduction in its ADSL offering, as well as its "efforts to improve the quality of the ADSL service" since its launch in 2002. It also quotes a study by research firm Markinor, which states that 88% of ADSL users are satisfied with their service.

The incumbent provider is in the middle of an Independent Communications Authority of SA (ICASA) hearing, organised after numerous complaints regarding cost and service restrictions were levelled at its ADSL offerings.

Councillor Mamodupi Mohlala, who is chairing the ICASA panel, said yesterday that ICASA had received 446 submissions complaining about the service.

Telkom acknowledges that its service has been the target of "robust public debate", but insists it has improved since the original complaints were received. It adds: "Public opinion is swinging in Telkom`s favour, particularly on issues such as speed and the quality of service. Much of what led to the ADSL enquiry is water under the bridge now."

Telkom claims ICASA is singling it out for blame, rather than looking at the industry as a whole. Sentech`s MyWireless 128 and 256, Wireless Business Solutions` iBurst and Vodacom`s 3G are all comparable to Telkom`s ADSL, it says.

"It should be noted that the MyWireless service has also received considerable unfavourable public comment, yet this service is not even mentioned in the enquiry. We ask why?"

The ICASA hearings began yesterday and will continue until Monday afternoon.