We all remember that old Christmas carol “The 12 Days of Christmas” where a man, deliriously in love, gives his love a series of gifts over 12 days. Wouldn't it be nice if government did something similar for all of us?
In the carol, the singer begins by sending his true love a partridge in a pear tree. The gifts then get a little more imposing and by the sixth day, the lover has collected geese, hens, turtle doves and calling birds.
By the time he gets to the 12th day of Christmas, she has collected 12 drummers drumming; 11 pipers piping; 10 lords a-leaping; nine ladies dancing; eight maids a-milking; seven swans a-swimming; six geese a-laying; five golden rings; four calling birds; three French hens; two turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree.
While the extravagance of the giver should be questioned, the message behind the carol - giving and celebrating Christmas - should not be lost. As the whole festive season symbolises "goodwill to all mankind", wouldn't it be nice if our government and the operators could help us out a bit in our time of need?
At this time of the year, when people need to get in touch with their family and friends - and even those few cases of drunks calling their exes - communication becomes pivotal.
Considering that interconnect rates are decreasing, wouldn't the ultimate demonstration of goodwill be to lower call rates - even if it is just for 12 days? This, after all, is the time of the year when most people would rather spend on wors and steak than on prepaid airtime.
Getting serious
This year, Finland and France showed the kind of resolve that our government has failed to demonstrate over the years. While the French approached this in their typical whimsical manner, Finland legally gave a directive on broadband speeds.
Considering that interconnect rates are decreasing, wouldn't the ultimate demonstration of goodwill be to lower call rates - even if it is just for 12 days?
Audra Mahlong, journalist, ITWeb
Like banking, electricity, water and sanitation, Internet connection is now deemed a basic, essential service, which every citizen has to have access to. To say Internet access is as important as traditional basic services may be overstating its importance, but not by much.
While it may seem easier to introduce a measure like that in a country of only 5.2 million people - over 79% of which use the Internet - I would think we would need such a law more than they do.
While the campaign for universal broadband in SA cannot be on a similar scale to programmes on HIV/Aids, TB, literacy and the right to not drive into potholes, government still needs to tackle it with some urgency.
In 2007, Finland had around 287 Internet connections per 1 000 inhabitants, and all schools and public libraries have Internet connections and computers. It's now taking this further.
In July, it was decreed that all citizens should have access to an Internet connection that runs at a speed of at least 1Mbps. But the government is still aspiring to more - the country also aims for speeds of 100Mbps for all, by 2015.
Wouldn't it be the best festive season ever, if as a Christmas present, our government gave us something similar?
Considering that not a lot of people have access to the Internet and we are a mobile country, it might be wiser to give us cheaper call rates so we can afford to send tired old Christmas joke SMSes and, more especially, make drunk calls, as is the tradition in many households.
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